The government on Saturday came out with a content code including “self-regulation guidelines for broadcasting sector” which mandates news channels to follow certain ‘dos and donts’ while carrying out sting operations to avoid ‘unwarranted’ infringement of privacy.

“Channels must not use material relating to person’s personal or private affairs or which invades an individual’s privacy unless there is an identifiable larger public interest reason for the material to be broadcast,” according to the elaborate guidelines that run into 34 pages.

It also asked channels to ensure ‘senior editorial control’ for selecting material in issues relating to privacy and intrusion into public affairs. Besides, the guidelines suggested appointment of one or more Content Auditors by the channels as part of its internal regulatory mechanism.

It also categorised programmes for viewing in three segments – ‘U’ and ‘S’, ‘U/A’ and ‘A’.

The first category programmes could be viewed at all time and in every age group, while the second one would be viewed by adults or minors above the age of 12 years under parental guidance between 8:00pm to 4:00pm.
Category ‘A’ programmes are suitable for restricted viewing only by adults above 18.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry unveiled the code after a meeting with broadcasters on Saturday, ahead of plans by government to bring the Broadcast Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning early next month.

The content code and the guidelines have come in the backdrop of growing concerns over the depiction of sex and violence as also the manner in which sting operations were being carried out by news channels.

Draft TV content code prohibits depiction of women as witches. Women should not be depicted as witches in any TV programme on occult, according to the final draft content code for TV channels released by the Ministry for comments of public and stakeholders.

The content code says that programmes dealing with exorcism, occult, paranormal, divination, human and animal sacrifice or other such practices depicting horror should be placed in the ‘Adult’ category, which will be shown only late in the night.

The programmes should treat these subjects in a way that they do not justify, encourage and glamourise such practices, or instill fear or revulsion about consequences of not following such practices.

They should also not encourage blind belief or superstition in the efficacy of such practices. The subjects should be treated in such a manner that viewers are not enabled to emulate such practices or learn their detail or sources.

The guidelines also prohibit prolonged and frequent depiction of excessive horror related to occult and other subjects mentioned above.