In a rousing address at the XIth edition of the BCS Ratna Awards 2025, Member of Parliament and former Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, urged India’s broadcasting and content distribution ecosystem to usher in a new era of collaboration, innovation and responsible content creation.

Speaking on August 6 to a packed hall of media leaders, DPO heads, broadcasters and content strategists in New Delhi, Thakur acknowledged the extraordinary transformation of the broadcasting sector and positioned it as the glue uniting India’s diverse cultural landscape.

“You are the force driving broadband penetration across the nation. You are the digital bridge builders, the connectivity champions,” Thakur said, addressing the DPOs and cable operators in attendance.

Drawing on hard-hitting data, Thakur underscored the enduring relevance of linear TV, despite the OTT boom. With over 210 million TV households, he noted that 9 out of 10 Indians still watch live television, with nearly 60 percent of the population continuing to engage with linear formats monthly.

He emphasized the power of co-viewing, a habit unique to Indian homes, with 98 percent of TV-owning households having only one television set. “This transforms every advertisement and every show from a one-to-one message into a powerful chorus reaching multiple hearts within the trusted environment of the home,” he added.

While congratulating awardees like Arnab Goswami, Sudhir Chaudhary, Rahul Kanwal, and other distinguished broadcasters, Thakur didn’t shy away from encouraging a shift in narrative. He questioned the sustainability and cultural impact of repetitive, high-episode shows, calling for “new content” that is impactful, innovative, and globally relevant.

“It shouldn’t just go on the numbers. Next time you give an award, it should also be for the most powerful content, not just the most-watched one,” he suggested.

He highlighted how countries around the world are exporting culturally rich and impactful content, subtly urging Indian content creators to look beyond formulaic storytelling and think global.

Perhaps the most significant takeaway of the speech was Thakur’s explicit call for deregulation in the broadcasting sector. He advocated for all stakeholders — broadcasters, DPOs, regulators, and policymakers — to collaborate in creating a “win-win” ecosystem.

“Let’s work together… regulation or deregulation—whatever you call it—but the government is more than happy to listen to your challenges and shape the future with you,” Thakur said.

His remarks come at a time when the broadcasting and cable industry faces mounting regulatory hurdles in content approvals, pricing frameworks, and digital infrastructure development.

From referencing IPL 2025’s 525 million TV viewers, to citing the 880 million audience during the 2024 General Election results, and Doordarshan’s record-breaking rebroadcast of ‘Ramayan’ during COVID, Thakur made a compelling case for television as India’s largest shared cultural space.

“You all are not just in the business of broadcasting. You are in the business of bringing India together—one screen at a time,” he concluded.

BCS Ratna Award is organised by Aavishkar Media Group. The awards celebrated its 11^thedition by honouring 55 pioneers across the broadcasting, cable, DTH, IPTV, broadband, OTT and digital sectors. The awards recognized innovation, excellence and impact in content creation and distribution.