The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released recommendations on the formulation of the National Broadcasting Policy 2024, on June 20. The NBP aims at stipulating the vision, mission, goals and strategies that could set the tone for a planned development and growth of the broadcasting sector in the country in the era of new and emerging technologies.
As one of its stated goals is to establish India as a ‘Global Content Hub’, TRAI has proposed various initiatives for positioning India as a ‘Content Hub’.
The authority said the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) dedicated to content creation 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. This would lead to the establishment of state-of-the-art content creation facilities in India, fostering innovation, collaboration and position India as an attractive destination for content production. Therefore, the Authority supports the creation of SEZs for establishing content creation hubs, it said in its recommendations for the NBP 2024.
Snapshot of TRAI recommendations on establishing India as a ‘Global Content Hub’
Initiatives for positioning India as a ‘Content Hub’
– 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.
Promoting Local Content
– 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.
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