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Govt gives‘Adults only’ tag to Bigg Boss, Rakhi ka Insaaf
Directs Colors, NDTV Imagine to telecast the two shows only after 11 pm
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 17
The government has finally the cracked the whip on sensational reality television shows with vulgar and abusive content. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has ordered Colors and NDTV Imagine channels to telecast their respective programmes “Bigg Boss 4” and “Rakhi Ka Insaaf” only after 11pm as the contents of these programmes have not been found suitable for general viewing.

Official sources said the ministry’s directive to these channels would come into force with immediate effect. “The two channels have been directed to change the timing of these programmes. In fact, such programmes can only be aired between 11 pm and 5 am. The repeat telecast also can only be shown during these six hours,” they added.

According to the ministry’s directive, the two channels will not share the contents of their controversial programmes or video footage with any of the news channels for promoting them. These shows are not for universal viewing and will carry a band saying 'not suitable for children'.

The sources said the contents of these have often been found objectionable. The ministry had been receiving complaints from social activists and organisations as well as the general public regarding the contents of the programmes. Newspapers in recent days have carried reports of several complaints about objectionable contents of TV reality shows.

Key government officials had discussed the issue at length from time to time. At a meeting on Monday, representatives of the ministries of Home, Women and Child Development, External Affairs and Information and Broadcasting took the decision to order change in the timings of the two programmes. It was felt that these programmes should be aired only when children are usually asleep. The sources denied that the government had resorted to some kind of censoring. The two channels have only been asked to shift the time slots.

I&B Ministry directive

z The two shows are not for universal viewing and will carry a band saying 'not suitable for children'.

z The two channels will not share contents of their programmes with any news channels for promoting them.

z Such programmes have to be aired between 11 pm and 5 am. The repeats can only be shown during these hours.