FAQs

Viewers and Complaints Guide

Who can make a complaint?

Any person or a group of persons, may, either individually or jointly, file an APPEAL with BCCC against any programme broadcast on any of the IBDF member non- news TV Channels after making a complaint to Level 1 (Broadcaster). If the complainant/s are not satisfied with the channel’s reply, then they can file an APPEAL with the BCCC in keeping with the amendments of CTN Rules.

What can I complain about?

You may complain of any breach of the Self-Regulatory Content Guidelines for Non- News Television Channels including the following themes:

 

1) Crime & Violence

2) Sex, Obscenity & Nudity

3) Horror & Occult

4) Drugs, Smoking, Tobacco, Solvent & Alcohol

5) Religion & Community

6) Harm & Offence

7) General Restrictions.

How to make a complaint?

To ensure observance and adherence to the Programme Code set out under the CTN Rules, there shall be a three-level structure as under:

Level I - Self-regulation by broadcasters;

Level II - Self-regulation by the self-regulating bodies of the broadcasters; and

Level III - Oversight mechanism by the Central Government.

  • A complaint must be made to the Grievance Officer of the concerned TV Channel in clear handwriting or typed either in English or in Hindi along with all relevant particulars including the name of the Television Channel, the date and time of telecast of the offending content, the title of the programme, details about the alleged offence, etc. and also give reasons, as to why s/he feels that the particular programme was not in compliance with the Content Guidelines.
  • The complainant must also furnish details about his/her name, age, complete address along with the fax number (if any), email id, telephone number etc. in his/her complaint.
  • If the complainant is not satisfied with the reply received from the Grievance Officer of the TV Channel, complainant can file an appeal with BCCC within fifteen days of receipt of reply from the Channel and write to the Secretary General, BCCC C/o. Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation, C-301, 3rd Floor, Ansal Plaza, Khelgaon Marg, New Delhi.

Click here to download the complaint form or fill the online complaint form available at the IBDF website home page.

Is there a time limit to receive a response from the TV Channel?

The Grievance Officer shall respond to the complainant within fifteen days of receipt of the complaint. An acknowledgement to the complaint shall also be sent to the complainant within 24 hours by the Grievance Officer after the receipt of the complaint.

Is there any time limit to file an appeal before the BCCC?

If the broadcaster fails to reply within fifteen (15) days or the complainant is not satisfied with the broadcaster’s response, an appeal can be filed before the BCCC against the offending programme broadcast within fifteen (15) days.

Can I file an appeal directly before the BCCC?

The APPEAL cannot be filed with BCCC directly as the CTN rules mandate the channels to be the first tier of grievance redressal mechanism. An appeal can be filed with the BCCC only after the complainant is not satisfied with the response/reply of the first tier i.e channel or if the channel has not responded to the complainant within the stipulated period of fifteen (15) days. 

The APPEAL must be made in writing, either in English or Hindi, and must include the following:

  • Name, age, complete address of the appellant
  • Name of the TV Channel and specify the programme
  • Date and time of broadcast
  • Short summary of the subject matter of the complaint

In which language can the complaint be made?

The complaint can be made in English or Hindi. If the supporting documents, if any, are in any other language, the same should be translated in English or in Hindi.

Does the mechanism cover films and movie videos?

The complaint redressal mechanism does not cover films, movie videos & film trailers as these programmes are currently being pre-certified by Central Board of Film Certification.

Does the mechanism cover advertisements being broadcast on the TV channels?

The mechanism does not cover advertisements. All advertisement related complaints should be addressed to The Advertising Standards Council of India. 

What will happen to your complaint placed before BCCC?

      • Any person (complainant) aggrieved by the content of a programme aired by a broadcaster/channel as being not in conformity with the Programme Code set out under the CTN Rules or IBDF’s Self- Regulatory Guidelines may file a complaint in writing to the broadcaster.
      • In case the complainant is unaware of Level I and directly files a complaint with the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) without complaining to the broadcaster, the BCCC shall forward such complaint to the concerned broadcaster with a copy to the complainant, within two working days of its receipt.
      • The broadcaster shall, within twenty-four hours of a complaint being filed or forwarded by BCCC, generate and issue an acknowledgement to the complainant for his information and record. The broadcaster shall dispose of the complaint and inform the complainant of its decision within fifteen days of receipt of such complaint.
      • If the decision of the broadcaster is not communicated to the complainant within the stipulated period of fifteen days, or if the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the broadcaster, he may prefer an appeal to BCCC (provided that the said broadcaster is a member of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation or IBDF), within fifteen days.
      • On receipt of an appeal, the BCCC Secretariat shall acknowledge the same to the complainant within two working days of its receipt.
      • After reviewing the appeal, if BCCC arrives at decision that a TV Channel has seriously, deliberately, repeatedly or recklessly violated IBDF’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines, then BCCC may consider imposition of following direction/penalty to establish seriousness in compliance of the Guidelines:
        • Issue a Warning to the channel to be more cautious in future in its depiction while telecasting a particular kind of content.
        • Issue a Direction to the channel to not repeat a particular episode of a programme.
        • Issue a Direction to avoid a particular kind of reference in the programme or to edit/ modify the programme.
        • In a rare case, issue a Directive giving option to the TV channel either to modify the content of the episode for viewing during general hours or to shift the telecast of the episode to restrictive viewing hours. BCCC must observe the following principle of the Guidelines while passing direction under this sub-clause: “There is a progressive decline in the proportion of minors present as television audience through the evening and during the night. The restriction on the broadcast of programmes unsuitable for minors should be relaxed on a gradual basis after 8 PM. The assumption is that after 8 PM parents are expected to share responsibility for what their children are permitted to watch on television.”
        • Issue an Order to telecast an Apology Scroll in a standard format that shall be applicable to all similar decisions. There should be gradation of violations, ranging from mild to severe, and the frequency of Apology Scroll should be determined accordingly.
        • Impose a Financial Penalty in a graded manner up to a maximum of Rupees 30 lakh. There shall be gradation of violations, ranging from mild to severe, and amount of Financial Penalty should be determined accordingly. The financial Penalty could be graded in six buckets – Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2.5 lakh, Rs 5 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, Rs 15 lakh, Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh.

      • BCCC, while passing order, must clarify that IBDF’s Self-Regulatory Guidelines’ violations in no manner can be considered as violation as per Ministry of I&B Guidelines since that would amount to double jeopardy and there are separate laws and policy guidelines for the same. 

What is the timeline for disposal of an appeal with BCCC?

The BCCC shall dispose of the appeal within sixty days of receipt of appeal and convey its decision in the form of a guidance/direction or advisory to the broadcaster, and inform the complainant of such decision within a period of sixty days. 

How is a complaint decided by the BCCC?

All decisions of the BCCC shall be by simple majority of the Members present and shall be in writing and may specify the action to be taken by the concerned Television Channel in respect of the television programmes complained against.

What happens if the directions of the BCCC are not followed by the TV Channels?

In case of non-adherence of the directions of BCCC by the TV Channel, it may initiate any one or a combination of the following actions: -

  • Issue a warning to implement the direction within next forty-eight hours.
  • Air an apology in such manner as may be decided.
  • Issue a Directive to the IBDF to take necessary action to expel the concerned member.
  • In exceptional cases of a Television Channel not carrying out the directions of the BCCC, the BCCC may recommend to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for appropriate action against the Channel, as per the law.
  • Any Directive issued by the BCCC to the IBDF shall be binding and must be implemented with immediate effect.

Which broadcasters are within the scope of the BCCC?

Broadcasters that are Members of the IBDF are within the scope of the redressal mechanism. However, any complaints received against non-IBDF members, the same will be forwarded to the I & B Ministry for appropriate action.