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New act to be formulated to stop “vulgar programmes”: Jaitley

Information and broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley has said a new act would be formulated soon to stop telecast of vulgar programmes by foreign channels.

Talking to reporters, he said the Internet, telecommunications and satellite TV would be brought within the ambit of a single act. A committee, headed by the Finance Minister, had already been constituted in this regard, he added.

Replying to a question about the popularity of Doordarshan, he said its viewership had increased by 26 per cent in the past year. As compared to private channels, DD’s access had multiplied, particularly in the South, due to its regional telecast.

In Kashmir, programmes were now being telecast for 15 hours, from the earlier two hours, he said, adding that the duration was likely to be extended from June 9.

Answering a query he said that if DD started telecasting programmes similar to private channels, information-based programmes would fade away.