TRAI’s concerns on content, ownership call for policy response

Context:

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a consultation paper on the National Broadcasting Policy, coinciding with significant developments in content delivery platforms and technologies.

Challenges of Regulatory Framework:

• Fragmented regulatory framework: The convergence of traditional broadcasting and digital media has highlighted the fragmented regulatory framework, with traditional broadcasting under TRAI and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and digital media governed by self-regulatory mechanisms outlined in the IT Rules 2021.
• Challenges: The disjointed regulatory regimes pose challenges in ensuring a level playing field for service providers, necessitating an evolutionary approach to address regulatory gaps and maintain fair competition.
• Expansion of broadcasting services: The TRAI consultation paper identifies the low TV adoption rate in India, with over 100 million households lacking television access, highlighting the need to expand broadcasting services' reach by addressing barriers like high ownership costs and subscription fees.

Content Regulation and Cross-Media Ownership:

• Content regulation is a critical area requiring regulatory intervention, yet the TRAI consultation paper remains silent on this aspect, despite the proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 granting extensive censorship powers to the Centre.
• Cross-media ownership: The issue of cross-media ownership, which impacts media consolidation and pluralism, is overlooked in the consultation paper, despite TRAI's previous emphasis on necessary safeguards and the need for a robust policy to ensure healthy competition within the sector.
• Consolidated National Broadcasting Policy: As India aims to establish itself as a global leader in media and entertainment, a progressive policy framework will be crucial to fostering an inclusive broadcasting ecosystem that supports innovation, diversity, and healthy competition.