June 2013

ONLY KIDS CONTENT ON CHILDREN'S CHANNELS

Children's' TV channels have grown rapidly in popularity. Their revenues and market share have risen significantly. In fact many broadcasters claim that their children's' channels address the child in every person and not just to a young age group.

NO KIDS GENRE

Broadcasters also point out that there is no separate censor certification only for kid's content or separate, well defined govt. rules that kid's channels must adhere to.

Since children are put to bed by 10pm or 11pm, kids channels have often carried other programming also. In recent months this has provoked complaints from parents.

PARENTS COMPLAIN

Parents have sent written complaints of children's channels carrying content inappropriate for young viewers. These include promos with kissing scenes, an incident where a cartoon character attempts suicide or another scene in which a character attempts to pull down a girl's skirt have been aired.

Other complaints include the telecast of promos of a reality show or other programmes meant for adult viewers.

Complaints have also been lodged against the telecast of films/movie clips classified as UA, including horror/action films, on children's/ cartoon channels.

BCCC VIEW

The Broadcast Content Complaints Council (BCCC) chairperson justice AP Shah has sent out a warning to members of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation cautioning them to be more circumspect about the programming they air on their channels.

Defending their stand, some broadcasters have pointed out that there is no separate classification of channels meant exclusively for children, hence such content cannot be faulted.

Countering this, the BCCC opined that these channels consider children to be their principal target viewers. Consequently, it is children who overwhelmingly watch these channels and unsuspecting parents allow them unrestricted access to these programmes.

The BCCC chairperson justice AP Shah stated "While the BCCC wishes to avoid being a censoring agency, it advises all IBF member channels, particularly children's/cartoon channels, to be more cautious in the selection of the content shown, considering the impressionable minds of their target viewers. The emphasis should be on the "best interest of the child." The self-regulatory body for general entertainment channels issued the advisory to all IBF members.

The BCCC has also informed the I&B ministry of its stand, so that the channels follow the BCCC advisory. n