Working towards balance in broadcast code: Anand Sharma

New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS) The government Wednesday said it was continuing the process of evolving consensus on the proposed broadcast code for content regulation that will find 'a balance between freedom of the press and societal concerns.'

'We want an acceptable balance that recognizes freedom of the press and societal concerns,' Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anand Sharma told reporters here Wednesday when asked about the contentious broadcasting code.

'We are actively addressing the issue. The judiciary has asked us to evolve a consensus on the issue. We are doing it,' Sharma said.

The minister's remarks come days after the Indian Broadcasting Foundation, a body that represents over 200 TV channels, including Prasar Bharati, presented a draft content code to the government for its approval.

The IBF's draft code envisages two categories of television programmes: one for general viewing and the other for restricted viewing.

Last week, the Supreme Court had given four weeks to the government to submit guidelines for regulating TV programme content on the lines of IBF's draft content code.

According to the draft code, restricted programmes should be accessible to only those aged 18 years and above on conditional access basis through parental consent or through pin code control as in the case of direct-to-home (DTH) services.