Standards & Practices

Standards and Practices (S&P) is the term television networks use for self regulation - they are in short a Network's 'conscience keeper'. In Sony Entertainment Network ('the Network'), S&P's role is to ensure the Network's content projects its image of providing wholesome entertainment making television viewing a satisfying and enjoyable family experience.

Broadcasting and freedom of expression are intrinsically linked. However, with such rights come duties and responsibilities. With this view in mind, the S&P department acts as an independent, self regulatory mechanism that ensures the Network acts in a responsible manner, adhering to certain norms which responsible electronic media is expected to observe in public interest. Hence S&P has an important role to play in ensuring that content carried by the Network does not malign the reputation of any person or institution or hurt the sentiments of its viewers. The Department's function is to review broadcast content on the Network's channels which includes movies, entertainment programmes, teleserials, teleshopping, promotional clips and commercials to ensure claims are factual and content is in compliance with the law, company policy and any self regulatory standards established by the broadcasting community.

The Government has issued guidelines from time to time and the Ministry of I&B has taken a step forward to recommend a content code that places greater responsibility on broadcasters and advertisers. Consistent with this approach, MSM has developed an internal Broadcasting Code which provides a guideline and acts as a framework of principles for self-regulation..
S&P follows the guidelines prescribed by various regulatory bodies as well as its own Broadcasting Code.

Some of the key points that all these codes refer to are:

• Parents can feel assured that children can "safely" watch TV during the prescribed "U" hours 4am-8pm. They can be satisfied that their children will not be able to view inappropriate or potentially harmful material including adult material if they are watching TV before the "watershed" hours which is the prevalent practice the world over for specifying a time at night after which the adult material can be shown. In India, the watershed time is proposed to be fixed from 2300 hours to 0400 hours.

• The dignity of the individual, particularly women and children will be held in high esteem.

• An individual's right to privacy will be safeguarded.

• Responsible treatment of sensitive subjects such as crime & violence, sex, obscenity & nudity, horror & occult, drugs, smoking, tobacco, solvents & alcohol, religion & community etc. must be ensured by the content providers.

In the past, various channels were penalised for non-compliance with the guidelines. S&P's role is preventive i.e. to help prevent such instances by reviewing programmes (on a case by case basis) and ensuring the programming is acceptable to the mass audience.

Producers and makers of television programmes during the contractual stages are taken through the guidelines to ensure that they strictly follow the content code while they are scripting dialogues, writing screen plays and finally the show goes on air.

The Network has always been at the forefront of providing responsible entertainment. Technological developments and social changes lead to changing patterns of content use and attitudes towards TV viewing and audience expectations. As one of India’s leading television networks, Sony Entertainment Television has taken proactive responsibility and commits itself to providing wholesome family entertainment with a social focus.

S & P department strives to protect the Network's image, as a responsible and responsive institution, through correct & reliable information.
We strive to facilitate content within the given parameters.