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According to the performance indicator report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the total active subscriber base of the four pay DTH operators – Tata Play, Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV and Sun Direct – increased 0.38% quarter-on-quarter to 65.50 million.

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday invited comments on the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 that will provide for a consolidated framework to regulate broadcasting services including DTH, OTT and digital news platforms.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has opened public consultation on the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, designed to replace the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995. The proposed legislation aims to streamline regulatory processes, encompassing Over-The-Top (OTT) and digital news platforms, and update definitions and provisions for emerging technologies.

The draft bill also provides for content evaluation committees with independent members, more participative Broadcast Advisory Council for self-regulation, differentiated approach for program and advertisement codes and statutory penalties, among others. 📰 I&B Ministry Releases Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2023, To Bring OTT, Digital News Under Proposed Law.

The ministry intends to establish self-regulation through content evaluation committees and a broadcast advisory council. It also aims to provide programme and advertisement codes for various broadcasting network providers, as well as accessible measures for people with disabilities and statutory penalties.

“In the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, an erroneous proviso Rule 93( 8 ) allowed the plying of vehicles carrying protruding loads on roads upto one metre,” says Save LIFE a NGO taking

In Primeshots today: Israels war and India; Temasek to sell 20% stake in Tata Play; and IT index mustering momentum.

OTTs which have adopted self-regulation so far to follow stricter standards under new law

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a pre-consultation paper to gather input from stakeholders for the formulation of the National Broadcasting Policy (NBP). The paper covers various aspects of the broadcasting sector, including public service broadcasting, local content promotion, piracy containment, and the need for a separate regulator. It also discusses issues like strengthening the audience measurement system and unlocking growth in the AVGC sector.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) plans to introduce the Broadcasting Services Regulation (BSR) Bill 2023, which will replace the current Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. The new bill will have a wider scope, regulating over-the-top (OTT), cable TV, direct-to-home (DTH), headend-in-the-sky (HITS), internet protocol television (IPTV), and radio.