Health Ministry consulted MIB and MeitY for OTT anti-tobacco warning rules

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The Health Ministry revealed that it held extensive consultations with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) before implementing the anti-tobacco warning rules for over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The government shared this information in a response to the Parliament’s query.

Concerns Over Promotion of Tobacco on OTT Platforms

Union Minister of State for Health, SP Singh Baghel, expressed concerns about the growing popularity of OTT platforms among children and youth. There is apprehension that these platforms may inadvertently promote tobacco and tobacco-related products. While Indian films and TV already required health warnings for scenes involving smoking and alcohol, such regulations were not in place for streaming platforms until now.

Imperative Need for Regulation on OTT Platforms

The minister emphasized the imperative need to regulate the depiction of tobacco products and their usage on OTT platforms, especially considering the increasing viewership of on-demand streaming platforms among children and youth. The focus of the government is to protect the younger generation from unnecessary exposure to tobacco imagery and advertisements.

Guidelines for Anti-Tobacco Messaging on OTT Platforms

In May, the Health Ministry issued new anti-tobacco guidelines for OTT platforms. These guidelines mandate the inclusion of anti-tobacco health spots and disclaimers lasting 20-30 seconds at the beginning and middle of any content depicting tobacco’s use. Furthermore, scenes depicting tobacco consumption must display static warning messages. Non-compliance may result in action by an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the health ministry, MIB, and MeitY, and may even lead to content blockage in India.

Industry Opposition and Growth of India’s OTT Market

Industry players, including Netflix, Viacom18, and Disney+Hotstar, opposed the new rules, citing additional burdens and increased editing costs that could lead to production delays. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) also expressed concerns that the new anti-tobacco warning norms for streaming platforms would be difficult to implement and impinge on content creators’ freedom of expression.

Despite these challenges, India’s OTT market continues to thrive, driven by its large number of internet users. The market is projected to reach a size of $12.5 billion by 2030, making it a significant market for global players like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+Hotstar, and local platforms like Viacom18’s JioCinema, Zee5, and Alt Balaji.

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Over 1,000 startups receive support under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

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We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our reporting and coverage. We StartupNews.fyi want to be transparent with our readers about any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in our work. It’s possible that some of the investors we feature may have connections to other businesses, including competitors or companies we write about. However, we want to assure our readers that this will not have any impact on the integrity or impartiality of our reporting. We are committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news and information to our audience, and we will continue to uphold our ethics and principles in all of our work. Thank you for your trust and support.

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Health Ministry consulted MIB and MeitY for OTT anti-tobacco warning rules

The Health Ministry revealed that it held extensive consultations with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) before implementing the anti-tobacco warning rules for over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The government shared this information in a response to the Parliament’s query.

Concerns Over Promotion of Tobacco on OTT Platforms

Union Minister of State for Health, SP Singh Baghel, expressed concerns about the growing popularity of OTT platforms among children and youth. There is apprehension that these platforms may inadvertently promote tobacco and tobacco-related products. While Indian films and TV already required health warnings for scenes involving smoking and alcohol, such regulations were not in place for streaming platforms until now.

Imperative Need for Regulation on OTT Platforms

The minister emphasized the imperative need to regulate the depiction of tobacco products and their usage on OTT platforms, especially considering the increasing viewership of on-demand streaming platforms among children and youth. The focus of the government is to protect the younger generation from unnecessary exposure to tobacco imagery and advertisements.

Guidelines for Anti-Tobacco Messaging on OTT Platforms

In May, the Health Ministry issued new anti-tobacco guidelines for OTT platforms. These guidelines mandate the inclusion of anti-tobacco health spots and disclaimers lasting 20-30 seconds at the beginning and middle of any content depicting tobacco’s use. Furthermore, scenes depicting tobacco consumption must display static warning messages. Non-compliance may result in action by an inter-ministerial committee comprising representatives from the health ministry, MIB, and MeitY, and may even lead to content blockage in India.

Industry Opposition and Growth of India’s OTT Market

Industry players, including Netflix, Viacom18, and Disney+Hotstar, opposed the new rules, citing additional burdens and increased editing costs that could lead to production delays. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) also expressed concerns that the new anti-tobacco warning norms for streaming platforms would be difficult to implement and impinge on content creators’ freedom of expression.

Despite these challenges, India’s OTT market continues to thrive, driven by its large number of internet users. The market is projected to reach a size of $12.5 billion by 2030, making it a significant market for global players like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+Hotstar, and local platforms like Viacom18’s JioCinema, Zee5, and Alt Balaji.

Also Read The Latest News:
Over 1,000 startups receive support under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

Disclaimer

We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our reporting and coverage. We StartupNews.fyi want to be transparent with our readers about any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in our work. It’s possible that some of the investors we feature may have connections to other businesses, including competitors or companies we write about. However, we want to assure our readers that this will not have any impact on the integrity or impartiality of our reporting. We are committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news and information to our audience, and we will continue to uphold our ethics and principles in all of our work. Thank you for your trust and support.

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