In the slugfest for Television Rating Points(TRPs), channels are incessantly mappingout ways to spice up their content on thetube to grab more eyeballs. Whether it'scashing in on the masala, or broadcasting showswhich are cheeky, bold and not so beautiful, channelsare doing it all in the form of Reality TV.Now, this is definitely not in good taste and needsto be regulated in the interest of social order.Plans were mooted to formulate a BroadcastingRegulator Authority, but it seems the Governmentis confused of what to regulate and whatnot to regulate. That explains why the Governmenthas been sitting over the long-pendingBroadcasting Regulation Bill and not been ableto come to a consensus and take appropriatemeasures against the channels. Is it not high timethe Government took essential measures to enforcethe Bill? BT delves deeper….Reality TV, which has churned out instant minicelebritiesout of plain Janes and Joes, continues to bethe TRP badshah and dominates the prime time slotson the telly for years now. Assuring more froth than thetearjerker soap operas, Reality TV has captivated theimagination of couch potatoes like never before bycashing in on emotional somersaults, catfights, violenceand use of abusive language in their shows. In an effortto spice up the content on the small screen and grabmore eyeballs, channels have gone a step ahead tobroadcast shows which are cheeky, bold and not sobeautiful. But some of these shows drew flak from theauthorities as the I& B Ministry this February, sometimeback, served notices to MTV and UTV Bindass fortheir alleged vulgarity and defamation of women intheir popular shows Splitsvilla and EmotionalAtyachar. According to the notice,the Ministry found the format ofthe shows highly distastefulas the participantsindulged in objectionable acts to remain in thegame. Though the matter has been resolved and theshows have been shifted on a watershed hours time slot,the big dilemma before the Ministry is what to regulateand what not to regulate. Will the creation of a separatebroadcasting authority serve the purpose and go downwell with the channels? BT scouts for answers.
What the Ministry has to say?
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting saysthat with the rapid burgeoning of more than 500 channelson the tube, it is not practically feasible it to lookinto the content of each and every show. One of theMIB official on condition of anonymity says, "Therecannot be a diktat from the Government on what comprisessuitable content on the television. Channelsargue on what is the definition of obscenity. The ministryhas sent many notices in the last four years tochannels which it feels have violated the requirednorms. There is a monitoring service of the Government,but it is not possible everytime to look into thecontent. Therefore, it is necessary for the evolution ofconsensus to address the problems and the creation ofa broadcasting authority will help."
The shock value factor!
Actress Sambhavna Seth, who participated inBigg Boss Season 2 (that came under the scannerof the I&B Ministry for its alleged vulgarity), feelsthere should be a broadcasting authority as a fewchannels thrive on shock value which shores upthe TRPs and in the war of TRPs, the sentimentsof the contestants go for a toss. "Shocking is thebuzzword today for all reality shows. EmotionalAtyachar and Splitsvilla are a perfect example ofthis and I strongly feel that there are a few thingsin the show which can be edited. I am afraid that infuture we might get a more outrageouscontent to watch. Though theentertainment quotient does go upwith such shows, channel programmersjust don't care about the sentimentsof the participants.Regulation is undeniably requiredhere," she says.
Why the need of a content authority?
Though TV viewers may raisetheir eyebrows at the brash displayof distasteful content on the tube,actress Shradha Sharma, who conducteda fidelity test on her friendand actor Raja Choudhary throughEmotional Atyachar, feels that realityshows depict the real life of peoplein society and the ruckus over itis uncalled for. "Why do we need acontent authority here? I think thesekind of shows act as a deterrent forall those people who are cheatingtheir partners. They will think twicebefore indulging in such things because they can becaught on the national TV," quips Shradha.
'Channels should go for self- regulation'
Actress Payal Rohatgi, who also participated inBigg Boss Season 2, was livid when her name wasdragged in the Shradha-Raja episode of EmotionalAtyachar. "The creation of a broadcasting authorityis a good idea, but channels should definitely exerciseself- restraint.
Freedom of speech is okay butnot at the expense of anyone's integrity. Realityshows are the flavour of the season, but that doesn'tmean that TV channels should stoop to any level.Being innovative doesn't mean that you have to getnasty. I will think ten times before participating insuch shows," says Payal.Tone it down
Today many reality shows are not meant for familyviewing and the content shouldbe toned down, feels actress AditiGovitrikar, a participant of BiggBoss Season 3. "An independentbroadcasting authority will servethe purpose. At times, it is difficultfor parents to monitor their childrenwhile watching TV. I think the channelsshould act responsibly andshould know what to regulate andwhat not to regulate," says she.
Programming head speaks
With the entertainment channelsundergoing a massive churning andthe audience getting younger, a fewchannels are providing them a staplediet of voyeuristic pleasure, saysSuresh Motswana, creative head ofZee TV. "The Ministry should strikea balance and should draw a line betweenwhat to regulate and what notto regulate. I know you have to becreative to provide something newto your audience; else it results inviewer's fatigue. That means a fall of TRPs and revenueas well. Will the Government help the channelsgenerate revenue? I feel that it should be left tothe viewer's choice of what to watch and what not towatch," he says.
