The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) on Friday in a virtual meet with the Minister of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) requested regulatory stability with a request for NTO 2.0 being held back. The Minister is said to have responded positively.
Sony Pictures Network India Head and IBF President NP Singh, The Walt Disney Asia Pacific President and chairman of Star and Disney India Uday Shankar, Punit Goenka MD and CEO Zee Entertainment, Rajat Sharma president News Broadcasters Association, and chairman India TV, and Aroon Purie, chairman India Today Group attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed BARC, NTO 2.0, dues from the BOC, permission for film and TV content shooting, among others. While the NTO 2.0 matter is sub judice the Minister is reported to have said that he would consult with TRAI about NTO 2.0 and BARC. He is reported to have said that there would no regulatory disruption.
It remains to be seen as to how the Ministry plans to hold back NTO 2.0 since it is already in play with partial implementation by the Direct to Home (DTH) operators. The broadcasters and Cable operators are only temporarily getting away from it due to their High Court cases.
