I&B ministry proposes to bring content on OTT platforms under its radar

New Delhi, July 08: Following the increasing controversies over the content on the over-the-top (OTT) platforms, Information and Broadcasting ministry has proposed bringing under its purview the contents being streamed on the various OTT platforms.

 

 

 

“OTT being a digital platform will fall under the purview of the Ministry of IT but now we are proposing a decision that the content should fall within the purview of I&B ministry,” said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare. Khare discussed the lack of regulation in the OTT platforms and noted that all other forms of creative media namely movies, radio and print media are regulated but the OTT platforms aren't.

 

 

Further, he said, "There is a need for convergence of various ministries (in this regard), particularly in the ways changes are happening, (it) is extremely necessary". He also noted that the government believes in less but important regulations and the four platforms must be under som body to address certain issues if anything arises. The discussion to regulate the OTT platforms has been in the news for quite some time and the same is expected to see the light of the day soon.

 

Out of the five different media print, radio, TV, films and OTT four of them have certain kinds of regulatory practices such as the Press Council of India for the print media and the Central Board of Film Certification certification for films, but one of them is unregulated", he said. He added that currently a film released on OTT is not covered under the Central Board of Film Certification as it not exhibited as a film there. There has to be a level playing field for all, including OTT platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar, which do not come under any regulatory purview as of now he said.

 

“Different regulatory structures must be brought in sync to ensure less regulation,” he said. Meanwhile, there are lots of controversies over the content of the web series with the OTT platforms becoming part of many lives in this lockdown time. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Zee5, ATL Balaji have witnessed a huge jump in their subscription. More than 75 percent of Indians have purchased new subscriptions for OTT platforms during the lockdown period. These are digitally streamed falls under the domain of the Ministry of Information and Technology (IT).