FTV Banned: Out of Steam from Cable TV

The Indian government has banned FTV (the fashion television channel) for 10 days w.e.f. March 12 till March 21. The government had ordered the prohibition of FTV "through cable television networks and any other platforms throughout the country.”

The channel owners were accused of broadcasting topless women on September 4, 2009. The show was of fashion designer Alexander McQueen, which was held in Barcelona, Spain. The ministry has accused FTV of violating the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.

The Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has stated that the telecast was “offending against good taste and decency.”  The I&B Ministry had earlier prohibited FTV from telecasting programmes such as ‘midnight hot’ between April 1 to May 30, 2007.  So, what exactly is Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 and what are the guidelines broadcasters need to follow? The exercise of power is conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Cable and Television Networks (regulation) Ordinance, 1994, or Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, as it is commonly known. The Ordinance was re-promulgated by the then President on January 17, 1995. The Ordinance was later introduced in Parliament and approved by both Houses.

Let us also discuss some common terms.

Cable operator – A person who provides a service through a cable television network. He can be a person who is also responsible for the management and operation of cable TV networks.

Cable service – The transmission by cables of various programmes of any broadcast television signals.

Cable television network – It is basically a system that comprises of a bundle of closed transmission paths and associated signals generation designed to provide cable service by more than one subscriber.

Areas that come under the purview of broadcast:

• Exhibition of films
• Features
• Dramas
• Advertisements
• Serials
• Audio/visual or audio-visual live performance
• Presentation

Cable Television Networks: Rules & Codes

Any programme code, when violated, can attract a fine, penalty and/or ban of the channel. Therefore, the cable TV provider should obey the following guidelines. The broadcasting content should not have anything that

• Offends against good taste/decency.

• Contains criticism of friendly nations.

• Contains religious attack and/or communities through visuals or words.

• Has anything defamatory, obscene, false, deliberate and suggestive innuendo, lies or half truths.

• Any programme which has the potential to encourage and/or incite violence.

• Anything that goes against the maintenance of law and order and/or that promote anti-national attitudes.

• Include anything that amounts to contempt of court.

• Contains aspersions that go against the integrity of the President and Judiciary.

• Contains anything affecting the integrity of India.

• Criticizes, slanders or maligns any individual, certain groups, segments of social, public and moral life of the country.

• That encourages superstition or blind belief.

• Denigrates women through depiction in any manner, her form or her body or any part thereof in a way as to have the effect of being represented as indecent or derogatory to women.
• The programme should not have the ability to deprave, corrupt or injure the public morality or morals.

• Slander, snooty and sardonic attitude towards linguistic, ethnic and regional groups.

• The cable operator should carry programmes in his service that project women in a positive, leadership role of sobriety, moral and character building qualities.
• Programmes meant for adults should normally be carried in the cable service after 11 p.m. and before 6 a.m.