The regulation of OTT platforms has become one of the most crucial aspects of entertainment in recent times. So significant that the Indian government had to intervene, believing that there should be a limit.
A similar type of regulation already existed for linear TV and has been working fine. However, OTT platforms have always lived through a free spirit, sometimes becoming ‘too much’ for a common viewer. The government introduced a new bill, and Apurva Chandra of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shed some light on it.
Chandra underscores a crucial juncture for government deregulation in the broadcasting sector, aiming to spur healthy competition with OTT services and align with the Prime Minister’s vision. This move intends to position India as a global content hub and empower consumers to freely choose platforms.
The government adopts an impartial stance, relying on technological advancements and consumer preferences to shape the media landscape. The Broadcast Services Bill consolidates regulations into distinct chapters, exemplifying this approach.
The proposed content evaluation committee holds a pivotal role in regulating both OTT platforms and traditional broadcasters, overseeing content on entertainment channels and radio programs.
Focused on ensuring content quality and appropriateness, especially for diverse age groups, the committee strengthens the regulatory framework. A notable improvement involves empowering the second tier of the existing three-tier grievance mechanism, granting legal status and authority to impose fines and request content removal.
Despite rare government interventions for content removal on OTT platforms, as mentioned by Apurva Chandra, a “light-touch” approach is emphasized, leaving the extent of future actions uncertain.
