MUMBAI: Information and Broadcasting Ministry secretary S K Arora laid down the regulatory framework for the Indian media and entertainment sector at FICCI FRAMES.
Arora chalked out the four legs of the regulatory framework of the government for the media and entertainment industry. They are as follows:
To provide consumer choices at affordable price and keep the public at the center of all regulatory framework;
Inducing, facilitating and promoting investments by the industry to upgrade technology;
Encourage competition and provide level playing field across various media and platforms.
Provide regulatory and legislative support and encouragement for companies going global so that they can leave their marks globally.
The agenda was to outline regulatory system of films, television and radio. Arora started off with films, which he said was easiest as it was already on an upswing. He further added that the recent slump in the film industry has now been overcome due to corporatisation. “Now a days good film are doing good business, by good films he meant films that represent social economic milieu as also art films,†he said.
“The Indian media and entertainment industry is going places and is becoming a global industry. This is likely to be a trend in the next five to ten years. The government is extremely supportive of the industry, which is largely self sufficient financially. Despite all odds, it has grown phenomenally and we will continue to provide policy measures that are user friendly for the media and entertainment industry,” he added.
But a major bottleneck the industry faced according to him was in the area of marketing and distribution of films. Though large production houses have been able to get over this problem, smaller producers haven’t been able to resolve this issue simply because their funds are always allocated towards production of films with little or none left for exploiting the film in the desired area.
A specialist regulator for resolving issues between producer, distributor and exhibitor is a requirement that needs to be dealt with pointed out Amarchand Mangaldas partner Shardull Shroff.
Further Arora acknowledged the fast growing Digital Cinema technology, which is already under use in 1000 cinemas out of the 12,000 Indian cinemas. He further proposed to promote this technology and also modify the Cinematography Act for convenience of cinema halls.
He also stated that apart from UK, Germany and Italy, countries like Brazil, China, Korea and France were also keen to finalize co-production deals with India in time to come.
Further focusing on India’s USP – Gaming, Animation and VFX, he said it was growing at a fast rate due to huge outsource work for international projects but also pointed that this industry is yet to build its own brands and go global. He was hopeful that co-production deals would help gain ground and get integrated.
Arora envisioned a regulatory convergence in time to come. A point he raised was that independent smaller bodies such as Film and Television Producer’s Guild, Film Federation of India and Film Exports should all be brought under one council rightly called as the Export Promotion Council.
Lastly he spoke of marketing Indian films abroad, which has traditionally been done via the international festival circuit in India and abroad.
