Cable Censorship In India. Is The Internet Next?

Content providers please take note: Following a Bombay High Court Order for cable operators to stop transmitting channels that show A or U/A content (which includes innuendo, excessive violence and abusive language, hence almost everything), several Cable TV operators had stopped their services in protest.
According to one consumer, the TV channels were scrolling the following notice:

Due to unprecedented raids on the cable operators for carrying satellite movie and entertainment channels having Adult content, All Maharashtra cable operators have shut down the channels till further directions from high court. Kindly bear with us. CODA.

By yesterday, some cable operators had started broadcasting all but movie channels. What applies to Cable will probably be applicable to DTH too, and maybe even IPTV. Times of India: Initially, DTH was excluded from the High Court order, later two main changes were made- broadcast of U/A content was allowed, and the order was made applicable to DTH as well. Adult content, however, does not cover TV serials. Once launched, I guess IPTV would also be governed by this law.

Meanwhile, the Times of India carries a Reuters report with the following quote:

“To the best of our knowledge, there are no rules yet regarding censorship on the Net, so we plan to use the online platform to generate interest.” – Kaveri Khulla, Marketing Manager, EMI Virgin India.

Looks like a quote selected for sensationalising the issue, but if someone in the government reads this – the net could be next. (Don’t forget the ban on several websites, including blogs last month) Paris Hilton’s new video “Stars are Blind” has received an A certificate from the Indian Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and hence cannot be broadcast on Indian TV Channels. The video had been edited and sent back to the CBFC, who rejected it again. When did controversy last adversely affect a movie or an album?
Related:
India Introduces Cable Censorship
Tata Sky’s DTH Service Launched;Dish TV To Target Niche
Blogspot Blogs Blocked In India?
Dish TV Pre-empts Tata Sky; Rolls Out Features And Promos
DTH Space Hotting Up

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