Airing of condom ads restricted

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has decided to restrict the telecast of condom advertisements with explicit and indecent content between 10 pm and 6 am.

The move to only allow watershed hours for such adversetiments on television came after the government received several complaints regarding a steamy condom commercial featuring adult movie star Sunny Leone. This newspaper had on December 6 reported that the Advertising Standards Council of India — the apex self-regulating body of advertising sector — sought the government’s advise on the issue.  

In an advisory issued on Monday, the Union information and broadcasting ministry stated that “all TV channels are hereby advised not to telecast the advertisement of condoms which are for a particular age group and which could be indecent/ inappropriate for viewing by children. Therefore such advertisements may be telecast between 10 pm and 6 am to avoid exposure of such material to children and to ensure strict adherence to the provisions under the Cable TV rules.”  The

TV channels have also been warned that “any failure will attract action as per provisions of the rules” the government directive stated.  

The I&B ministry advisory quotes Rule 7 (8) of the Cable TV Network Rules 1994 which specifically states that “indecent, vulgar, suggestive, repulsive or offensive themes or treatment shall be avoided in all advertisements” .