Soni personally monitoring satellite TV for obscenity

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS) Not enough is being done to prevent obscenity on satellite TV channels and the government is working to rectify this, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said in the Rajya Sabha Monday.

"Not enough is being done. We are working with all stakeholders to monitor content in a more effective way," Soni said during question hour.

"I can tell you that I am personally monitoring this," she said. "Some channels have shown the aptitude for self-regulation."

She was responding to a supplementary by P.J. Kurien (Congress) who pointed out that some of the programmes and advertisements on satellite TV channels were so explicit that they could not be watched with the entire family.

She pointed out that the content on satellite channels was governed by the Cable Network Act of 1995.

"If there are violations, notices and advisories are sent to the concerned individuals," she added.

She also said that the conditional access system (CAS) for direct-to-home (DTH) reception of satellite channels was being extended to the non-metros.

"It will be extended to more cities in the future," Soni said.

Responding to a supplementary on the steps the government was taking to prevent DVD piracy of blockbuster Bollywood movies on the very day they were released, she said: "We have constituted a small group on this. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have special laws on this. The state governments are being asked to take stringent measures to prevent piracy."

• Television