29 notices issued for programming rules violation by channels

Various channels were found to have violated programming rules by telecasting adult, obscene or inappropriate content, prompting the government to issue warnings, show cause notices besides other action in 29 cases this year.

Of the 21 show cause notices issued, nine were for the telecast of 'A' certified films. Two channels also received warnings for promotional content relating to beer.

In January, TV channel Enterr 10 received a show cause notice for telecasting Hindi films 'Musafir' and 'Plan' which had been certified 'A'. The inter-ministerial committee recommended that the channel be taken off air for one day but the matter is still under the I&B ministry's consideration.

In April, channels Zing and Manoranjan TV were issued show cause notices for having telecast 'A' certified films 'Hawas' and 'Topless' respectively. Manoranjan TV received another show cause notice from the ministry in May for telecasting 'restricted to adults' movie - Ek chatur naar.

Channel AXN also received a similar notice to which it has submitted its reply, for the telecast of film 'Darkness Falls'. Movies OK was served show cause notice for the telecast of 'Dil jale', World movies for 'The Good Girls' and 'La Zona' and channel Mahua for movies 'Aulaad' and 'Ek Aur Kurukshetra'.

Channel TCM telecast 'A' certified film 'Rich and Famous' without displaying the Censor Board certificate for which it also received a notice. In most cases, the channels had submitted replies to the notices and the matters were being considered, I&B minister Manish Tewari's reply to a question by BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in the Rajya Sabha has revealed.

The ministry said that it has issued warnings to two channels. ET Now got warning for telecast of a promotional programme showing direct promotion of 'Kingfisher Beer' while Star Cricket was also was warned over another advertisement.

The telecast of advertisement of 'Carlsberg' beer got channel Neo Prime a show cause notice to which it has replied. Six cases which related to the telecast of advertisement 'Clean and Dry Intimate Wash' which appeared indecent, vulgar, suggestive and obscene were referred to Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI), the I&B ministry said. In all the cases, the advertisement was withdrawn by the channels.

Fashion TV also got a show cause notice on June 5 this year for telecast of programme '15th anniversary - Top Designers'. In its reply in the Rajya Sabha, the I&B ministry said that the reply of the channel had been received and the matter was under consideration.

The telecast of 'Axe Shower Gel' got show cause notices issued to channels IBN 7, VH 1 and Colors on May 28, this year. All the three channels have submitted their replies to the ministry.

Another channel SS TV telecast the trailer of a film 'Friends with Benefits' which was not certified by the Central Board of Film Certification for telecast on TV channels for which it was also issued a show cause notice. In October this year channel, Comedy Central had also been issued a show cause notice over the content of its programme 'Popcorn.'

Apart from these cases, the government is also considering the case where channel Jaya Max telecast a film song 'Engaeyum Eppodum Aangeetham Santosham' for which it was issued a show cause notice, the I&B ministry data reveals.