Centre to issue fresh guidelines for TRP and OTT, says Javadekar: Report

OTT platforms include news portals and also 'streamers' such as Hotstar, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video

As television and the online streaming viewers increased in the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre is mulling to soon release a fresh set of rules and guidelines to manage the process.

Lok Sabha MPs posed a series of queries on TRP manipulation and regulation of OTT content and the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar responded to them by saying that the government is taking affirmative action and will notify new guidelines in each case, according to reports.

The government recently brought OTT platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, besides other online news and current affairs content, under the ambit of the I&B ministry, giving it powers to regulate policies and rules for the digital space.

Javadekar said assurances given to the ministry by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) to develop a self-regulatory mechanism for Over The Top (OTT) digital content "did not give adequate cognisance to content prohibited under law and there were issues of conflict of interest", according to a Times of India report.

Earlier, in November 2020, the minister had said that just like TV, there is no regulatory body for over-the-top (OTT) platforms and the government is receiving suggestions on how to regulate its content.

“Neither there is any PCI nor any other body for OTT platforms which have very good content as well as very bad content. So, something needs to be done about it,” he said.

“Discussions are going on and we are getting suggestions from a lot of people on what should be done to regulate the content on OTT platforms,” he said.

Regarding the fake TRP scam, where the ratings were manipulated by several news agencies, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Disciplinary Council said it took action to maintain panel sanctity and filed 11 FIRs against those who manipulated sample, the report quoted the minister.

For TRP ratings, the I&B ministry had on November 4, 2020, constituted a committee headed by the Prasar Bharati CEO, which has submitted its report on January 12, 2021. "The report will be studied by the ministry and the future course of action will be decided," Javadekar said.

(With inputs from agencies)