MUMBAI: The Cable Operators Federation of India (COFI), the Delhi-based cable TV operators association, has sent a memorandum to I&B minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, expressing their inability to follow the recent Bombay High Court order banning adult films on television.
The petition, signed by COFI president Roop Sharma, requests for government intervention to apply for modification of the order and amendment of Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 accordingly.
COFI argues out that, implementation of the High Court's direction to cable operators to carry only the films which are sanctioned by the C.B.F.C for unrestricted public exhibition may create lot of practical difficulties since cable operators / MSOs have absolutely no control over the programmes / films that are being transmitted by the broadcasters.
"There are about 150 entertainment channels which transmit their programmes on 24X7 basis. Most of these channels as a part of their programs show Movies at different times of the day to cater for their international market in other countries too. In addition there are exclusive Movie Channels which throughout 24 hrs transmit only Movies. None of the Broadcasters give any list of their minute by minute programming to Cable Operators/MSOs. The programme lists that appear in the newspapers are seldom correct and do not give the last moment changes," points out COFI.
"It is submitted that cable operator can exercise control only on the movies telecast through its local VCR channels from its headend/control room and in case a cable operator is found to have telecasted an "A" rated movie through its VCR channel, then the said cable operator is definitely liable for punitive actions under the provisions of Cable Network Regulation Act," the memo adds.
In the petition, COFI also stresses on the necessity of implementing CAS at the earliest so that subscribers can be empowered to control the content coming on their television sets. It also requests the ministry to notify the relevant amendment in the Cable Network Regulation Act as has been mentioned in the downlinking guidelines.
Also read:
Impossible to police adult films on TV: cable ops
Bombay High Court bans adult films on TV
