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4 years ago 04:45:39pm Television

Digital publishers, OTT platforms get 15 days to submit compliance details

New Delhi, 03-May-2022, By IBW Team

India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has said it suspended the registration of about 276 MSOs in April, though the reasons were not publicly outlined. However, the MIBs also stated that despite the latest action, the total number of MSOs in the country stood at 1761 at the end of April 2022. The number includes MSOs whose registrations were suspended. From the data put on the website of the Ministry, it is not clear whether the MSOs whose registrations got suspended could get back to delivering normal services as and when the objections raised by the government were addressed and anomalies in the registrations were rectified. A few of the suspended MSOs --- as highlighted by the MIB --- did change the structure of their companies from partnership to proprietorship entities. The list of suspended MSOs could be viewed on the MIB website at https://mib.gov.in/sites/default/files/List%20of%20Registered%20MSOs%20as%20on%2030.04.2022.pdf. There were four MSOs whose registrations were cancelled/surrendered during the month of April. The applications of Shivam Cable & Broadband Private Limited of East Medinipur in West Bengal and Gujrata State's Bhuj-based Rallyon Technology were rejected by the MIB owing to suppression of vital information. In March 2022 also MIB had rejected the application of two MSOs as they had withheld relevant information from the government. The registration of Panduranga Cable Network of Telengana was cancelled in April 2022 due to non-operation. Ditto for Karnataka’s RK Digital Cable TV Network. As per a government order of 2017, all registered MSOs, unless indicated in the registration order specifically, can operate anywhere in India.

It’s now the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) that has sought details from digital publishers of news and curated content players in a format designed by the government, which has said digital news publishers need not register but have to furnish details.

“Since the newspapers are registered under Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, and private satellite TV channels are permission holders under the Uplinking and Downlinking Guidelines (2011) of the Ministry, a separate format for furnishing information, as in Appendix I, has been devised for such entities publishing news and current affairs on digital media,” the MIB said in a public notice that’s dated May 26, 2021.

For all “other digital news publishers, the relevant format is at Appendix II, while for OTT platforms, the format for furnishing information is at Appendix III,” MIB has specified.

The details in the appendix require contact details of relevant officials as per the new digital norms, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Codes) Rules, 2021, notified by the Government of India,  announced on February 25, 2021 and which came into effect yesterday.

Since the notification of the digital norms, MIB stated, the Minister Prakash Javadekar “held interactions with the publishers of online curated content, as well as the publishers of news on digital media” and also established communication channel with many digital media publishers, and their associations, regarding the rules and their compliance requirements.

“A total of around 60 publishers, and their associations, have also informed the Ministry that they have already initiated the process of formation of self-regulatory bodies under the rules,” the MIB statement said.

The MIB statement goes on to clarify that there is no requirement for prior registration of digital media publishers with the government. Rule 18 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Codes) Rules, 2021 instead provides for furnishing of certain information by the publishers of news and current affairs, and publishers of online curated content, to the Ministry.

The digital publishers have been given 15 days time to furnish the required details.


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