In what could have vital impact on the way streaming platforms function in India, including those part of legacy media companies, broadcast carriage regulator TRAI on Tuesday sought views from various stakeholders on the need for monitoring cross media ownership and control mechanism, apart from related issues, in the wake of drastic changes in the sector with the advent of digital technology.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper on ‘Issues Relating to Media Ownership’ after the government asked it to reconsider its recommendations on the issue made in 2014, in light of the changes in the media and entertainment industry with the arrival of new digital technologies such as over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

“Considering (the) overall scenario, do you think there is a need for monitoring cross media ownership and Control?… Should there be a common mechanism to monitor ownership of print, television, radio, or other internet-based news media?” is part of a series of issues on which TRAI has sought views from the stakeholders.

The TRAI has sought written comments on the issues raised in the consultation paper from the stakeholders by May 10, and counter-comments by May 24, according to a news report filed by PTI from New Delhi.

It observed that the digital media landscape was marked by the dominance of a limited number of very large players who have wherewithal to consolidate by acquiring smaller players.

“This can reduce media pluralism by undermining the diversity of new age portals and online media,” the consultation paper read.

The paper also sought views on whether there was a need for any additional regulatory/ monitoring mechanism. “Do you think there is a need to monitor takeovers, acquisitions of media companies, especially the news media companies,” it asked.

The TRAI noted that with the emergence of social media platforms and apps, which depend on user generated content, the news and facts do not depend upon any media organization for its conveyance to the public.

The regulator had made recommendations to the government on issues relating to media ownership in August 2014. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting asked the TRAI last year to reconsider the recommendations in the wake of the changing M&E landscape with the arrival of digital media.

In its annual report for 2020-21, released recently, the TRAI had also raised the matter of time-bound decision by government agencies on its various recommendations, observing that delaying or late implementation of its suggestions blunted the real intent of its recommendations made on telecom and broadcast sectors.

Meanwhile, the consultation paper on cross-media ownership issues also sought views on what genres should be considered for the purpose of overseeing media ownership to ensure viewpoint plurality.

It contended that infotainment channels broadcast content on a wide array of subjects, ranging from history to religion to international relations.

“The peculiarity of infotainment programmes is that they are perceived to be factually correct and therefore, have the ability to influence popular perceptions. Consequently, any inherent bias in such programmes is bound to have adverse impact on the society,” the consultation paper said.

Dwelling on the issue of news media, the TRAI asked whether there be a “common mechanism to monitor ownership of print, television, radio, or other internet-based news media”.

“If yes, elaborate on the authority, structure and mechanism of such monitoring mechanism/ regime. If no, should there be a self-regulatory mechanism by the industry? What should be the mechanism for defining and implementing such industry based self-regulatory regime? In case some players do not follow the self-regulation, what should be the procedure for enforcing such regulations?” is a poser that the industry has to give its feedback to TRAI.

At another place, TRAI has asked: “Should the word ‘media’ include television, print media, digital/online media, and other media entities? Alternatively, whether ‘television’ as a media segment should include only DPOs (including LCOs) or only Broadcasters or both for ensuring viewpoint plurality in the television segment?”

On cross media ownership, which is a contentious issue, TRAI has observed whether it would be appropriate to put restrictions on cross media ownership in one or more types of media segments based on mere presence of an entity in any segment in a relevant market.

“In case you support the restriction based on mere presence in the relevant market, what all segments should be included for imposition of restrictions?,” TRAI has asked in the paper, “Would it be suitable to restrict any entity having Ownership/ Control in a media segment of a relevant market with a market share of more than a threshold level in that media segment from acquiring or retaining Ownership/ Control in the other media segments of the relevant market?… In case you support such restriction, please suggest the threshold level of market share for the purpose of imposing cross-media ownership restrictions.”