Contrary ministry

IN Media Watch Briefs | 10/06/2012

Why is the ministry of information and broadcasting asking TRAI to look at cross media holdings again when it has shown no inclination to act on a report on the subject submitted in 2009? ASCI was asked to examine the issue and submitted a draft report. No final report seems to have been asked for. Yet last month the ministry wrote to TRAI again asking it to examine on the issue. Commissioning reports is a substitute for action on a tricky issue?

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

Clearly, the run to the 2019 elections is on. A journalist received a call from someone saying they were from Aajtak channel and were conducting a survey, asking whom she was going to vote for in 2019. On being told that her vote was secret, the caller assumed she wasn't going to vote for 'Modiji'. The caller, a woman, also didn't identify herself. A month or two earlier the same journalist received a call, this time from a man, asking if she was going to vote for the BSP.