New Delhi : Two broadcasters have sought exemption for their free-to-air news and current affairs channels from the 12-minute advertisement cap stipulated by TRAI and all such such representations will be considered on merit, according to Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha that the Telecom Regulator Authority of India had notified the regulation namely ‘Standards of Quality of Service (Duration of Advertisements in Television Channels (Amendment) Regulations 2013’ on March 22, 2013.
One of clauses provides that no broadcaster shall, in its broadcast of a programme, carry advertisements exceeding 12 minutes in a clock hour.
Further, another clause provides that every broadcaster shall, within 15 days from the end of a quarter, submit the details of advertisements carried in its channel to TRAI.
Rathore said the aforesaid regulations have been challenged by some broadcasters before the Delhi High Court which had on December 17, 2013 passed an interim order saying ’till the disposal of these writ petitions, the respondent /TRAI is restrained from taking any coercive measures against the petitioners or their members to make them abide by the impunged regulations’.
The matter is sub-judice, he said.
