It seems like Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India has decided to block/censor Comedy Central for some reason and it would no long be available for viewing till 4th of June.
Here is a photograph I took of the message I received, while trying to access Comedy Central today (25th April 2013).
I am not quite sure why this step has been taken by the Indian Government, but I can’t seem to fathom what could be vulgar or offensive enough on a comedy channel to justify its blocking. And the funny bit is, even though the order for this was supposedly issued on 1st of May 2013, a quick Google Search reveals nothing!
In any case, I am trying to find more information about this incident and if and when I find something, I will update this blog post.
Update: here is the order from the Government of India, which has lead to blocking of Comedy Central! http://mib.nic.in/writereaddata/html_en_files/content_reg/ComedyCentral.pdf. Apparently Comedy Central has been blocked due to airing obscene scenes on its candid camera show, Popcorn TV on the 26th of May 2012. In one of the pranks showed on that day, a member of the crew with mannequin legs (which seem like legs of a woman) goes on to pretend in public like he is having sex (viewer could only see his back and legs) and at the same time, he has supposed to made some obscene remarks about women as well.
Now I for one do not watch Popcorn TV, but I find this to be a ridiculous order, when there are plenty of songs from Bollywood movies which are much more vulgar and degrading to women than something like this!
5 Comments
Absolutely ridiculous!!! It’s like we are living in the stone age!!
I am really missing the channel this weekend- what a bummer!
I too don’t watch popcorn TV but yeah – look at all that Bollywood crap they show on prime time and most times even early morning – obviously no issue there for the ministry – typical!
And the worst part is, this penalty is for something which was aired in May 2012!
Which essentially means, even if a channel shows something “inappropriate” it takes the government almost a year to come up with penalties for it!
Thanks for the info, bro! Can’t believe the number of times I pressed 1 4 5 (Airtel Tv) and got back to No. 160 (Set Max)!
Personally, I thought the Roast of Trump had far more xx-content than any other program. But, really, the Dept of Tight Suits India should take a chill pill, may be!
Thanks anyway!
This Show Cause Notice by Government of India again cemented my trust in its sloooooo working and inordinate delays.. It is understood that there is a mechanism to issue SCN but one year to issue that SCN… No surprise, citizen of india continue to suffer.. (eternally)
PS: i don’t watch comedy central and can’t comment on the content..
Just some points :
– Without actually watching the programs in the controversy, coming to any comparatives with bollywood/ other programs is shortsighted.
– Law takes time – perhaps more , but one should still be grateful that these are reasoned orders rather than the knee jerk reactions of kangaroo courts.
– What may be just comedy to me could be vulgarity / racist slurs to you. There is no getting out of this except relying upon the reasoned judgements based upon the law of the land. of course,one could also argue that the law itself is bad to begin with. In which case, the solution lies ultimately in your vote which elects the politicians who make the laws !