The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has been met with silence after multiple attempts to gather input from stakeholders for the National Broadcasting Policy (NBP) 2024. Despite sending out three reminders—on July 22, August 18, and September 30—the ministry has yet to receive any substantial feedback, further delaying the policy’s formulation, The Story Board18 reported.
One key area of contention is the inclusion of OTT platforms in the broadcasting policy. Industry organizations, including the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), The Media Foundation (TMF), and NASSCOM, have expressed concerns over this, arguing that OTT platforms do not fall under the traditional broadcasting umbrella and should not be regulated under the same framework.
A spokesperson for a leading broadcaster commented, “The MIB is seeking feedback and comments on the consultation paper for NBP-2024, but we’ve already submitted our suggestions to TRAI. Repeating the process feels redundant.” This view highlights the tension between broadcasters and regulatory bodies over overlapping consultations.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) initiated a pre-consultation last year and launched a second consultation on April 2, 2024, to gather insights for the upcoming broadcasting policy. However, broadcasters believe that TRAI’s draft oversteps its regulatory bounds, particularly with its inclusion of OTT platforms in the consultation paper. IBDF emphasized this point, stating, “Digital media is not part of the broadcasting ecosystem and therefore should not be covered under the proposed policy.”
Despite the MIB’s repeated efforts, broadcasters and industry bodies have yet to finalize their responses. This reluctance underscores broader frustrations with the regulatory process, as stakeholders feel their previous input is being overlooked, complicating the policy formulation.
With the National Broadcasting Policy 2024 expected later this year, it remains unclear how the MIB plans to address the growing concerns and silence from key industry players. The ministry continues to analyze feedback from stakeholders, including service providers and advocacy groups, as it works to finalize the recommendations.