NEW DELHI: If the number of complaints received by the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) – the self regulatory body of entertainment channels – is any indication, entertainment channels appear to have moderated their content, especially those related to the depiction of sex, obscenity and nudity, quite well.
Grouses pertaining to obscenity have declined from 47 per cent of the total complaints in 2012 to merely 8 per cent – much fewer than plaints under the crime and violence section, which is nearly 11per cent of the total complaints recorded.
The complaints were not only against crime-based shows, but also against violence shown in daily soaps as well as reality shows.
In its status report, the BCCC led by Justice Mukul Mudgal (retd) said 27,676 complaints were received between August 2012 and August 2015 by the self regulatory body. During the last year, the highest percentage (39 per cent) of complaints was against the portrayal of persons with disabilities, child marriage/abuse/exploitation, stereotyping of women, mistreatment of animals and airing of content offensive to public feelings.
It was followed by complaints under the religion and community theme – 28 per cent of the 4,545 complaints. Most of these complaints pertained to mythology-based programmes saying content was not historical, thus hurting religious sentiments. The BCCC may issue an advisory to broadcasters on horror content.