THE CABLE TELEVISION NETWORKS (REGULATION) ACT, 1995
as amended by
THE CABLE TELEVISION NETWORKS (REGULATION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2000
Cable Television is the talk of the day. In each and
every corner of the country people talk about it. Urbanites have the privilege to enjoy
the cable television. In the recent past even in some remote corners of the country cable
television has spread its wings with the result that there has been a haphazard
mushrooming of the cable television networks all over the country due to availbility of
signals of foreign television networks via satellites. The programmes which are
being projected on the satellite channels are predominantly western and are alein to our
culture and way of life.On these cable television networks lot of undesirable
programmes and advertisements are also being screened without any fear of being checked.To
check this tendency it has been consirdered necessary to regulate the operation of cable
television networks in the country so as to bring about uniformity in their operation. On
29th September, 1994 an Ordinance titled the Cable Television Networks (Regulation)
Ordinance,1994 was promulgated by the President to provide for the regulation of the
operation of cable television networks in the country. The Ordinance was
re-promulgated by the president on 17th January,1995. To replace the said Ordinance a Bill
was introduced in the parliament which was passed by both of the houses.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
1.There has been haphazard mushrooming of
cable televison networks all over the country during the last few years as a result of the
availability of signals of foreign television networks via satellites.This has
been perceived as a "cultural invasion"
in many quarters since the programmes available on these satellite channel are
predominantly western and totally alien to our culture and way of life. Since there is no
regulation of these cable television networks, lot of undesirable programmes and
advertisements are becomming available to the viewers without any kind of censorship.
2. It is also felt that the
subscribes of these cable television networks, the programmers and the cable operators
themselves are not aware of their rights, responsibilites and obligations in respect of
the quality of service, technical as well as content-wise,use of material
protected by the copyright, exhibition of uncertified films, protection of subscribers
from anti-national broadcast from soures inimical to our national interest, responsiveness
to the genuine grievances of the subscribers and a perceived willingness to operate
within the board framework of the laws of the laws of the land, e.g. the
Cinematograph Act1952, the Copyright Act, 1957, Indecent Representation of Women
(Prohibition)Act, 1986.
3. It is, therefore, considered necessary
to regulate the operation of cable television networks in the entire country so as to
bring about uniformity in their operation. It will, thus, enable the optimal exploitation
of this technology which has the potential of making available to the subscribers a vast
pool of information and entertainment.
4. The bill seeks to achieve the above
objects.
ACT 7 OF 1995
The bill titled Cable Television
Networks(Regulation) Bill,1995 was passed by both the Houses of parliament and the same
was assented by the President on 25th March,1995. It came on the statue book as "THE
CABLE TELEVISION NETWORKS(REGULATION) ACT,1995 (7 OF 1995) deemed to have come into
force 29th September,1994.