Goyal calls for self-regulation in entertainment industry

Posted on by

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday called for some form of self-regulation in the media and entertainment industry especially with regard to content streamed on OTT apps. He pointed out that the industry is a new sector, adding that the government is making efforts to simplify the mechanism for authorizing filming of content in various locations in the country.

Speaking at the CII Big Picture conference, he said, “I think there is a need for some form of self-regulation in the media and entertainment industry. On the one hand, we are talking about our culture, our heritage, our rich traditions, our family value system, and on the other hand, some of the content that What we see on TV and OTT platforms is definitely going beyond what is normally accepted norms within India as a cultural norm.”

Decency in presentation

He said that a modern, engaging and entertaining way of presenting content is welcome, but a certain level of propriety in presenting India, Indian families and Indian culture is something that industry leaders should watch out for. “If the industry is not going to self-regulate, there is going to be an uproar from the community, and then the government has to regulate it.. So, I think it’s important that everyone gets involved in trying to make the industry more acceptable and really bring in the value proposition. The messages in these programs shouldn’t be disconnected from Indian reality.

The Minister also asked the industry to carefully consider new ways of entertainment such as gaming and to examine the levels at which we want to allow our children to be on betting platforms.

Take advantage of talent

Stating that the industry is a popular sector and growing at a fast pace, he added that the industry needs to tap Indian talents and skills to further boost this growth momentum. He added that the industry and the government should work together to drive the growth of the sector. Goyal also noted that India itself is a huge market for the media and entertainment industry, but noted that it has a long way to go to reach the inflection point. He added that India has the capacity to create content for the world.

The minister also said that efforts will be made to simplify the permitting mechanism for filming in India at various locations. He added that the government understood the need to make the legal framework more contemporary and would work with the industry along the same lines.