TRAI chief demands level playing field: Why should digital media escape regulations that bind traditional TV?

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today raised concerns on the regulatory chasm that exists between regulation of linear media (tradition media, cable) and digital media, and called for bringing regulation to the digital media.

TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said in a session on Regulating Broadcast in the Digital Age: Key Frameworks and Challenges, at WAVES, "There is a clear difference between the manner in which the linear content and digital content are regulated. While self-regulation applies to digital content, the linear content is regulated by the Cable Television Regulation Act."

"There is no reason why one media should be regulated with one set of rules, while others should have self-regulation. There is need to align content regulation. It should be media agnostic," said Lahoti.

"We should not stifle creative freedom, but still, we should have some regulation," Lahoti said.

Panellists called for several measures to initiate regulation of the digital content ecosystem. Kashyap Pathak from Deloitte said it is all about co-regulation. "Self regulation is also key as in the internet age, by the time the regulator comes to know of anything, it flies," said Pathak.

AIDB's Philomena Gnanapragasam referred to the Korean model of media literacy centres. "People come and create content at the media literacy centres in Korea. The type of content they create is related to the society. The learn the importance of good content which is authentic and real," Philomena said.

"I come from Malaysia. We do not have broadcasting law any more. Platforms have changed because of technology. Technology has completely changed the kind of media that we consume. Educating the youth of tomorrow and media literacy should be the priority. Internet has unleashed a jungle and that is where the people like Trai come in," Philomena said.