MIB Extends Public Consultation Period For Broadcasting Services Bill

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) extended the public consultation period for the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill. Originally released on 10 November 2023, the draft seeks to update broadcasting regulations to reflect the evolving media landscape.

The extension follows feedback from media associations and industry experts and aims to provide additional time for thorough input. The new deadline for comments and suggestions is 15 October 2024, allowing for a more comprehensive review of concerns from the public and stakeholders.

"The Ministry is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders on the draft bill. Further additional time is being provided to solicit comments/suggestions till 15th October 2024. A fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations," MIB posted on its X account.

It is also noteworthy that between the release of the first draft and the extension, the ministry distributed a second draft to selected media outlets with watermarks embedded to monitor its distribution.