New Delhi: With broadcasters slamming the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India`s (TRAI) recent order capping television advertisements at 12 minutes per hour, the government today said there is scope for discussion on the issue.
"(If) Broadcasters are not satisfied, we will sit and discuss...If the ministry feels we should intervene, we will also come," Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said.
She said channels could also approach new TRAI chairman Rahul Khullar, once he takes over. "When the new chairman comes, Broadcasters have all the freedom to go and meet him," Soni said.
A notification issued by TRAI on Monday, which was also the last day in office of outgoing chairman J S Sarma, limited the amount of advertising on TV channels and disallowed any shortfall in a particular hour to be carried over. According to industry estimates, this could impact advertising revenues of broadcasters by 15-40 per cent.