Target to finalise National Broadcast Policy by May-end, says TRAI Chairman

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will finalise the National Broadcast Policy by the end of May. This was stated by TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti at Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Future of Video India conference. He added that TRAI’s goal is to provide all stakeholders in the industry a level playing field. Lahoti further said, “There should be no entry barriers for any new entrants and there should be no discrimination between different players.”

TRAI had released a Consultation Paper on ‘Inputs for formulation of National Broadcasting Policy-2024’ in April this year and has sought written comments from all stakeholders on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper. Once the comments and counter-comments are received from the stakeholders, TRAI will prepare a draft policy, which it will then present to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The Consultation Paper highlights pertinent issues prevalent in the broadcasting sector with an objective of making India a ‘Global Content Hub’. The Consultation Paper raises questions on the policy and regulatory measures and the strategies to be adopted for increasing the contribution to the economy through universal reach, fostering innovation with focus on R&D, facilitating job creation, skill development and start-up promotion. The paper also discusses on strengthening the public service broadcasting, issues on various segments of media and entertainment sector, combating piracy and ensuring content security, robust audience measurement system, terrestrial broadcasting and socio-environmental responsibilities.

Issues for Consultation

The broad issues that have emerged which are relevant from the policy perspective are suitably factored-in and categorised accordingly.

Measuring and Increasing the Sector’s contribution to the Indian Economy

The parameters that may be considered to increase the sector’s contribution to the Indian economy are as follows:

• Provisioning of affordable television services in ‘TV Dark’ homes
• Augmenting R&D capabilities and promoting indigenous manufacturing in broadcasting equipment
• Employment generation with emphasis on skill development
• Promotion of innovation led Start-ups and small and medium[1]sized enterprises (SMEs)

Encouraging production and promotion of Indian Content for making India ‘Global Content Hub’ & ‘Uplinking Hub’

Strengthening of Public Service Broadcasting for quality content production and dissemination

Propelling the growth of the various segments of the sector

• Promoting Indian content by utilizing OTT platforms
• Ramping up the Indian films and making India a preferred filming destination
• Promising a growth trajectory for Indian online gaming segment
• Developing a support ecosystem for Animation, VFX and post[1]production
• Amplifying and facilitating the Music industry segment
• Utilizing Radio and CRS for informing, educating and entertaining the masses

Fostering growth-oriented Policy and Regulatory environment

• Fostering growth-oriented Policy and Regulatory environment
• Infrastructure Sharing

Combating Piracy and ensuring Content Security through Copyright Protection

Leveraging Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting

Reviewing the structure of Audience Measurement and Rating System

• Television Audience Measurement and Rating System
• Radio Audience Measurement System

Establishing effective Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Ensuring socio-environmental responsibilities and recognizing the role of broadcasting during disasters

• Social Goals
• Environmental Goals
• Role of Broadcasting during disasters