TV Channel AXN banned for show on ‘sexiest ads’
2-Mth Blackout Goes Against Broadcast Bill Suggestions
Times News Network, SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updatesNew Delhi: It’s a first—according to many, a dubious first. On Wednesday, the government, outraged by a programme on AXN, ‘World’s Sexiest Advertisements’, got into the moral policing act and banned the channel altogether until March 15. In the past, the government might have growled, even barked at ‘poor taste’ on TV, but it has never bitten off a channel.
The I&B ministry, which was the government’s sword arm in decapitating AXN, said the programme was against “good taste or decency’’ and was adversely affecting “public morality’’. O nly a few days ago, the ministry had ordered two TV channels to apologise for broadcasting a tasteless Gandhi video.
AXN is primarily an action channel and was broadcasting the sexy ads programme late at night, after 11 pm. According to those who have watched it, these are creative ads with sexual imagery and overtones, although rarely exposing too much skin. In that sense, it is adult stuff because it requires an adult sensibility to react to the programme.
There are some channels which show bikini-clad women in their late-night programmes. Many other channels show movies that have sexual references or imagery. That raises the question of whether the government has been selective in its action against AXN.
Interestingly, the proposed broadcast bill recommendations allow adult programming after 11 pm. So, the axe on AXN would appear to be going against the spirit of the recommendations. I&B minister P R Dasmunshi, while announcing the ban, said the broadcast bill would be brought to parliament in the budget session and would address issues of programme content.
Said Dasmunshi, “It has been decided to prohibit transmission or re-transmission of the channel up to March 15, with immediate effect.’’ Only once before has the government taken such drastic action—against a Russian semipornographic channel, but never against a popular mainstream channel.
Taken aback by the action against AXN, adman Prahlad Kakkar said, “Who are they (politicians) to preach to us on morality? It’s for the people to decide what they wish to watch or not to watch.’’ Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt said the government was behaving like a “paranoid mother’’. He added, “Every government and I&B minister has tried to use his power to appear as a protector of public morality.’’
The I&B ministry, which was the government’s sword arm in decapitating AXN, said the programme was against “good taste or decency’’ and was adversely affecting “public morality’’. O nly a few days ago, the ministry had ordered two TV channels to apologise for broadcasting a tasteless Gandhi video.
AXN is primarily an action channel and was broadcasting the sexy ads programme late at night, after 11 pm. According to those who have watched it, these are creative ads with sexual imagery and overtones, although rarely exposing too much skin. In that sense, it is adult stuff because it requires an adult sensibility to react to the programme.
There are some channels which show bikini-clad women in their late-night programmes. Many other channels show movies that have sexual references or imagery. That raises the question of whether the government has been selective in its action against AXN.
Interestingly, the proposed broadcast bill recommendations allow adult programming after 11 pm. So, the axe on AXN would appear to be going against the spirit of the recommendations. I&B minister P R Dasmunshi, while announcing the ban, said the broadcast bill would be brought to parliament in the budget session and would address issues of programme content.
Said Dasmunshi, “It has been decided to prohibit transmission or re-transmission of the channel up to March 15, with immediate effect.’’ Only once before has the government taken such drastic action—against a Russian semipornographic channel, but never against a popular mainstream channel.
Taken aback by the action against AXN, adman Prahlad Kakkar said, “Who are they (politicians) to preach to us on morality? It’s for the people to decide what they wish to watch or not to watch.’’ Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt said the government was behaving like a “paranoid mother’’. He added, “Every government and I&B minister has tried to use his power to appear as a protector of public morality.’’
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3 comments:
Hello.
I am James.
It is the artist whom I seek.
this sucks ... is this democracy ... y does the government ban everything.
its the viewer who should be choosing what to see and what not to see.
Clearly over reaction: AXN broadcasts educational series like CSI, Nip/Tuck and even Las Vegas, that give valuable insights to these changing times for the younger generation. Change to survive.
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