Govt not directly opposed to news broadcast on FM channels: Dasmunsi

Asserting that the Centre is not straightaway opposed to the broadcast of news and current affairs in the FM Radio, Information and Broadcasting Minister P.R. Dasmunsi today said the government did not allow this as there is no effective system to monitor the FM stations. There has been a great demand for allowing news and current affairs in the private FM channels from the existing FM broadcasters...We do not straightaway oppose the broadcast of news and current affairs in the FM Radio, but we may have to find a selective monitoring mechanism, he said in his address at the SIMCON conference here.

New Delhi, Sept 19 : Asserting that the Centre is not "straightaway opposed" to the broadcast of news and current affairs in the FM Radio, Information and Broadcasting Minister P.R. Dasmunsi today said the government did not allow this as there is no effective system to monitor the FM stations. "There has been a great demand for allowing news and current affairs in the private FM channels from the existing FM broadcasters...We do not straightaway oppose the broadcast of news and current affairs in the FM Radio, but we may have to find a selective monitoring mechanism," he said in his address at the SIMCON conference here.

He further said that the matter is presently under consideration, and the government would "like to have the views of the State Governments also on this particular issue."

As a measure to curb piracy of movies, he called for growth of digital exhibition, saying distribution of cinema in digital formats makes it difficult for pirates to make illegal copies of the film.

"The digital exhibition equipments would also be priced lower than projectors of film reels. It also helps as producers and exhibitors save on the high cost of making prints for distribution across the country as digital distribution is far cheaper," he added.

"In order to discourage piracy, I would request the State Governments to explore the possibility of creation of special cells and wings under the state police for enforcement of the Copyright Act and tackling piracy, and to find out the success story of Tamil Nadu Act in this regard," Dasmunsi said.

He went on to say that it is the State Governments which would have to adopt strict mechanisms to prevent piracy.

Central Government laws alone cannot help since cinema exhibition is a matter within the State and the entire marketing initiative is done in the States, he added.

ANI