Cable operators are set to move SC against the ban on adult films on television. Otherwise, they say, they will have to block movie channels.
NEW DELHI: Cable operators are set to move the Supreme Court against the ban on adult films on television. Otherwise, they say, they will have to block all movie channels.
On Wednesday, the Bombay high court restrained cable operators from showing any film that does not have a 'U' (unrestricted) censor certificate.
Reacting to the order, multi-system operators (MSOs) and cable operators decided on Thursday to get together and seek a review. If the order is not revised, they may stop transmission of Hindi and English movie channels till they get registered in India as per the government's downlinking norms.
According to these norms, all TV channels beaming into India have to register in the country by May 11, 2006. National Cable and Telecom Association president Vikki Choudhry said, "We are not creating content. We are only distributing it. So how can we be held responsible?"
He said operators have two options: "to seek a repeal of the order or switch off the movie channels." Cable operators would rather wait for all TV channels to be registered in India, another service provider said. Once the channels, including foreign-owned ones like STAR and Sony, register in India, they will have to conform to the law of the land.
The TV channels are learnt to have submitted a joint affidavit to the Bombay high court that they cannot be held responsible for what goes on air. The Cable TV Act, the only piece of legislation governing telecasts, deals with cable operators and not broadcasters.
But the government, with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is working on a content regulation charter that will focus on self-regulation by broadcasters.
Though the law is ambiguous on programming censorship, channels have been showing programmes with ‘U/A’ (parental guidance) certification after the 11pm deadline, an industry representative said. Many times, film producers obtain two separate certificates for release in theatres and on TV. Thus, a film that is certified ‘A’ for a theatrical release may be categorised as ‘U/A’ for television with more cuts.
“But now we will abide by the court order and show only ‘U’ certified films,” a channel executive said. The Union information and broadcasting secretary could not be contacted despite several attempts.
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