Now films & AV programs, OTT platforms, news & current affairs on online platforms under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

Now films & AV programs, OTT platforms, news & current affairs on online platforms under MIB

The President of India issued a notification on 9th November, 2020 whereby all such content has been brought under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

The Cabinet Secretariat has issued a Notification whereby Films and Audio-Visual programs made available by online content providers as well as News and current affairs content on online platforms have been brought under the Ministry Of Information and Broadcasting.

So now films and audio-visual programs, OTT platforms like Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, news and current affairs content that are made available by online content providers will come under the ambit of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

This Notification, signed by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, was issued on 9th November, 2020.

This Notification has amended the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, by stating that in THE SECOND SCHEDULE, under the heading "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SOOCHANA AUR PRASARAN MANTRALAYA)" after entry 22, the following sub-headings and entries shall be inserted, namely:-

VA. DIGITAL/ONLINE MEDIA

22A. Films and Audio-Visual programs made available by online content providers.

22B. News and current affairs' content on online platforms

This surely comes as an important next step. The Apex Court had recently opined about the regulation of digital media. The Centre's reply was also asked for with respect to a recent Public Interest Litigation(PIL) that had been filed for regulating Over-the-top(OTT) platforms. The plea mainly revolved around the lack of legislation governing OTT/Streaming Platforms. The MIB had also recently prepared a draft Bill titled "Registration of Press and Periodicals (RPP) Bill, 2019" to replace the existing Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867.