TRAI releases Consultation Paper on formulation of NBP 2024

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a Consultation Paper on ‘Inputs for formulation of National Broadcasting Policy-2024’ today.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), through a reference dated July 13, 2023, had requested TRAI to provide its considered inputs under Section 11 of the TRAI Act, 1997 for formulation of the National Broadcasting Policy. As a first step, TRAI issued a Pre-Consultation Paper on September 21, 2023, to elicit the issues which are required to be considered for the formulation of National Broadcasting Policy.

TRAI has received 28 comments. It has examined the issues emanating from the written submissions and meetings, studied various media and industry reports, public documents, international practices and initiatives taken by the Government for the sector to delve into the existing issues of the sector.

Accordingly, this Consultation Paper on ‘Inputs for formulation of National Broadcasting Policy-2024’ has been prepared for seeking comments from stakeholders and has been placed on TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in). Written comments on the issues raised in the Consultation Paper are invited from stakeholders by April 30, 2024. It may be noted that no counter-comments are being invited in this Consultation Paper, as this paper intends formulation of inputs for the broadcasting policy.

The broadcasting sector is a sunrise sector having huge potential to contribute towards the growth of the Indian economy. The inputs for formulation of policy aim at stipulating the vision, mission, objectives and strategies for the planned development and growth of the broadcasting sector in the country in the era of new and emerging technologies.

The Consultation Paper highlights pertinent issues prevalent in the broadcasting sector with an objective of making India a ‘Global Content Hub’. The Consultation Paper raises questions on the policy and regulatory measures and the strategies to be adopted for increasing the contribution to the economy through universal reach, fostering innovation with focus on R&D, facilitating job creation, skill development and start-up promotion. The paper also discusses on strengthening the public service broadcasting, issues on various segments of media and entertainment sector, combating piracy and ensuring content security, robust audience measurement system, terrestrial broadcasting and socio-environmental responsibilities.

Issues for Consultation

The broad issues that have emerged which are relevant from the policy perspective are suitably factored-in and categorised accordingly.

Measuring and Increasing the Sector’s contribution to the Indian Economy

The parameters that may be considered to increase the sector’s contribution to the Indian economy are as follows:

• Provisioning of affordable television services in ‘TV Dark’ homes
• Augmenting R&D capabilities and promoting indigenous manufacturing in broadcasting equipment
• Employment generation with emphasis on skill development
• Promotion of innovation led Start-ups and small and medium[1]sized enterprises (SMEs)

Encouraging production and promotion of Indian Content for making India ‘Global Content Hub’ & ‘Uplinking Hub’

Strengthening of Public Service Broadcasting for quality content production and dissemination

Propelling the growth of the various segments of the sector

• Promoting Indian content by utilizing OTT platforms
• Ramping up the Indian films and making India a preferred filming destination
• Promising a growth trajectory for Indian online gaming segment
• Developing a support ecosystem for Animation, VFX and post[1]production
• Amplifying and facilitating the Music industry segment
• Utilizing Radio and CRS for informing, educating and entertaining the masses

Fostering growth-oriented Policy and Regulatory environment

• Fostering growth-oriented Policy and Regulatory environment
• Infrastructure Sharing

Combating Piracy and ensuring Content Security through Copyright Protection

Leveraging Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting

Reviewing the structure of Audience Measurement and Rating System

• Television Audience Measurement and Rating System
• Radio Audience Measurement System

Establishing effective Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Ensuring socio-environmental responsibilities and recognizing the role of broadcasting during disasters

• Social Goals
• Environmental Goals
• Role of Broadcasting during disasters