TRAI pushes for establishing India as a global content hub

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in the process of formulating a National Broadcasting Policy and has requested Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to provide its considered inputs under Section 11 of the TRAI Act, 1997 for formulation of the National Broadcasting Policy. Based on the written comments received, inputs provided by the stakeholders during the Open House Discussion and its own analysis, TRAI has finalized some key recommendations.

One of the key goals is to establish India as a ‘Global Content Hub’ and reinforce India’s public service broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, through quality content production and dissemination. It also discusses the support that can be extended to radio and OTT broadcasting services for facilitating quality content proliferation.

According to TRAI, this can be achieved by including adopting modern technologies for high-quality content production and distribution, providing funds to support and train local artists and talents, improving infrastructure and fostering collaboration between the government and industry.

TRAI believes that by harnessing cutting edge technologies like VR and AR, coupled with advanced digital production techniques, content creators have the unprecedented opportunities to craft narratives that transcend borders, captivating audiences both in India and across the globe.

The Authority also mooted the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) dedicated to content creation, which could provide significant benefits such as tax benefits, simplified regulations, and other economic incentives that can attract investment from both domestic and international media companies.

TRAI noted that DPOs play a crucial role in promoting local content through platform services channels. They achieve this by incorporating locally produced programming services specific to their platform. Further, the Government may consider creating co-funding schemes in partnership with state governments, local self-governments (Panchayats) and urban local bodies to provide essential financial support to local talent, content developers, and technicians.

TRAI’s recommendations to position India as ‘Global Content Hub’ include:

• Fostering creation and outreach of quality content exhibiting India’s diversified art and culture, literature, history, mythology using new age technologies appealing to both Indian and International audiences.
• Enabling collaboration between Central Government, State Governments and industry partners to facilitate the growth of regional Indian content through funding, infrastructure support (content incubators and production hubs), education and skill development. Enabling creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for establishing content creation hubs.
• Improving the infrastructure and simplifying permission process for content production and filming at various tourist spots, heritage sites and popular locations to showcase Indian places at the global stage for boosting Indian tourism.
• Entering into co-production agreements with other countries to facilitate collaborative projects, enabling Indian content creators to access international markets and resources and enabling foreign producers to produce content in India.
• Encouraging incorporation of techniques like dubbing and subtitles in movies, television programmes, digital content, animated shows, children’s entertainment and educational content to enable citizens across the country, Indian diaspora communities as well as global audience to access content in vernacular/ international languages.

Local content can be promoted by:

• Enhancing the use of platform services of distribution platform operators for proliferation of local and regional content.
• Creating co-funding schemes in partnership with state governments, local self-governments (Panchayats) and urban local bodies for extending financial support to local talent, content developers and technicians.