NEW DELHI: The Indian government is close to finalising the content code for television and films, which is likely to re-write the business of broadcasting vis-à-vis prime time viewing.

According to a government official in the information and broadcasting minister, the content code is likely to be notified by month-end or early November.

“We are in the process of finalizing the content code and would like to get it in place as soon as possible,” an official in the I&B ministry said.

The content code is aimed at having a uniform yardstick for films and television content.

If the code gets in place, then quite a few popular TV soaps are likely to get re-classified and would have to be aired at timings set by the government.

The official said that the government is worried about complaints relating to content on TV and would like to regulate the same.

The content code is likely to classify TV content into categories, including whether it’s fit for unrestricted viewing or not.

This would be the first time that the Indian government would bring under censor regulations (mainly meant for films) TV content, which has been left out of regulation.

The Indian film censor board chief and veteran actress Sharmila Tagore had exhorted the government to remove overlaps in the functioning of censor board and a proposed broadcast regulator.

She also called for “transparency” while forming the proposed Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai), which is supposed to deal with content regulations.

Regulating content or complaints relating to TV shows is part of the government’s overall aim to address issues on content.