News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) is an organization of private television news, current affairs, and digital broadcasters in India. It has more than 26 leading news and current affairs broadcasters as its official members. The News Broadcasters & Digital Standard Authority (NBDSA) is an initiative of the NBDA members to lay down and foster high standards and to resolve complaints against any content broadcaster.
If any viewer or person has complaints regarding the violation of ethics & practices, and regulatory norms by the content & news broadcaster (TV channels), can lodge a grievance against the News Channel to the appointed grievance authority NBDSA.
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Features of NBDSA:
- To maintain standards and independence of television journalists, news agencies & broadcasters, and digital news channels.
- By ensuring compliance by these news entities with a code of conduct, news broadcasting standard regulations, and professional standards.
- To maintain the public taste and respect the rights & responsibilities of citizens.
- To review and scrutiny any action in the public interest that may have the tendency to restrict the gathering, supply, and dissemination of news.
- Other aspects of cases may be related to news broadcasting or concerned with the above precepts.
To file a complaint about the news content & shows of the digital or news broadcasting entities or TV channels/media, you will have to follow the 3-tier system to escalate the matter to the higher authorities.
In the first tier, citizens can directly register a complaint to the appointed grievance officer or given complaint redressal system of the news broadcaster, news agency, digital channels, or television journalism. If not resolved or dissatisfied with redressal, lodge an online complaint or write to the designated members/chairperson of the News Broadcasters & Digital Standard Authority (NBDSA).
In the third tier, you may escalate the grievance to the Grievance Officer, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the relevant matter as mentioned in the citizen charter of the ministry.
How to File a Complaint to News Broadcasters & Digital Standard Authority?
News Broadcasters & Digital Association has laid down the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards for the self-regulating news broadcasting, television channels, journalism agencies, and digital news content entities listed as members or Associate members of NBDA. If these regulatory guidelines & codes are breached by these members, the viewer/person has the right to file a complaint before the News Broadcasters & Digital Standard Authority (NBDSA).
Grievance Registration Fee & Redressal Time:
| Grievance Registration Fee | No Charges (₹0) |
| Redressal Time (News Agencies) | 14 days |
| NBDSA Resolution Period | 30 Days (read guidelines of NBDSA) |
The 3-tier grievance redressal mechanism is available to raise the issues regarding news broadcasters. In tier 1, you have to file a complaint within 7 days (from objected content/violation of codes) to the respective news broadcaster or news provider agency/tv channel by contacting the appointed grievance officer.
In tier 2, if the complaints are not resolved within 14 days or are not satisfied with the final decision, escalate the grievance to the NBDSA (Authority) within 14 days after getting the response from the news agency.
Report The Issues Regarding News Channels:
- Lack of impartiality & objectivity and neutrality in news reporting.
- If violates the code of ethics and regulatory guidelines & rules of NBDA.
- If glorified the crime news reporting, sensitive information, or any form of violence/crime.
- Complaints regarding sex and nudity, violation of privacy, and revealing sensitive/personal information.
- If any news channel is advocating or encouraging superstition, occultism, or any form of social/individual discrimination.
- Matters regarding sting operations, national security, or other issues related to news content.
Before lodging a complaint, read the booklets Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards, NBDA in Hindi or English language then report to the concerned Compliance Officers of news agencies.
You can submit an online complaint or write to the authority of NBDSA by filling out a complaint letter/form available in English & Hindi language. Also, attach the relevant documents, proof of submitted complaint, or response of the news broadcasting channel/agency. Send this form to the official address of NBDSA & a copy to the respective broadcaster.
First, you should approach the grievance officer of the news agency and further to the NBDSA. For this, follow the information mentioned below about the 3-tiers of the authorities.
Grievance Officers of News Channels
The appointed Grievance Officers of broadcasters/news channels are the nodal officers to whom you can initiate the complaint in tier 1 about issues related to delivered information, news content, fake news, etc.
Official address, e-mail, and contact numbers of the designated compliance/grievance officer of the news channels/agencies, who are registered members/associate members of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association, are listed below. Any person can use it to lodge a complaint directly to these officers.
ABP Network Pvt. Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, ABP Network Pvt. Ltd:
| Phone No. | +911204760100 |
| Website | File a Complaint (abpnetwork.com) |
| Subsidiaries | ABP Ananda, ABP Asmita, ABP Ganga, ABP Majha, ABP News, ABP Sanjha |
| Address | ABP Network Pvt. Ltd. FC-12, Film City, Sector 16A, Noida – 201301, Uttar Pradesh. |
Asianet News Network Pvt. Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, Asianet News Network Pvt. Ltd:
| Phone No. | +918030556337 |
| Website | File a Complaint (asianetnews.com) |
| TV Programme | Asianet News | Suvarna News |
| Fax No. | 08025323488 |
| Subsidiaries | Asianet News, Asianet Suvarna News |
| Address | Asianet News Network Pvt. Ltd. TC 26/621, (1 to 13 Nos) Secretariat Ward, Opposite Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Headquarters, Housing Board Junction, Thiruvananthapuram – 695001, Kerala. |
BBC Global News India Pvt. Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, BBC World (BBC Global News India Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +911123401600 |
| Website | File a Complaint (bbc.com) |
| Fax No. | 01123401610 |
| Address | BBC Global News India Pvt. Ltd., 6th Floor, HT House, K.G. Marg, New Delhi – 110001. |
Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, Times Now (Bennett, Coleman and Company Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +912224999944 |
| legalnow@timesgroup.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (timesnownews.com) |
| Subsidiary | ET Now, ET Now Swadesh, Mirror Now, Times Now, Times Now Navbharat, Times Now World |
| Address | Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd. (TV Division), Ground Floor, Trade House, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400013. |
Eenadu Television Pvt. Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, ETV (Eenadu Television Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914065551215 |
| Website | File a Complaint (etv.co.in) |
| Fax No. | 04030601215 |
| Subsidiary | ETV-Andhrapradesh, ETV-Telangana |
| Address | Eenadu Television Pvt. Ltd. 22, Bhaskara Apartments, Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda, Hyderabad – 500082. |
Gujarat News Broadcasters Pvt. Ltd.
Grievance Officer, VTV News (Gujarat News Broadcasters Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +917926873914 |
| legal@vtvgujarati.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (vtvgujarati.com) |
| Fax No. | 07926873922 |
| Address | Gujarat News Broadcasters Pvt. Ltd., VTV, Ground Floor, Sambhaav House, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad – 380054. |
Independent News Services Pvt. Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, INDIA TV (Independent News Services Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +911203051000, +911203967700 |
| mail@indiatvnews.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (indiatvnews.com) |
| Fax No. | 01203051009 |
| Address | Independent News Services Private Ltd. India TV Broadcast Centre, B-30, Sector-85, Noida – 201305. |
Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, Mathrubhumi News (Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914952366655 |
| Website | File a Complaint (mathrubhumi.com) |
| Fax No. | 04952366656 |
| Address | The Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co.Ltd, Mathrubhumi Building, K P Kesava Menon Road, Kozhikode 673001, Kerala. |
MM TV Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, Manorama News Central (MM TV Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914786610106 |
| compliance@mmtv.in | |
| Website | File a Complaint (manoramanews.com) |
| Fax No. | 04786610120 |
| Address | MM TV Ltd. Aroor P.O. Alapuzha – 688534, Kerala. |
New Delhi Television Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, NDTV (New Delhi Television Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +911141577777 |
| legal@ndtv.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (ndtv.com) |
| Fax No. | 01149862990 |
| Address | New Delhi Television Ltd. 402, Archana, B-Block Road, Greater Kailash I, New Delhi – 110048. |
New Generation Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, Puthiya Thalaimurai (New Generation Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914445969500 |
| compliance@newgenmedia.in | |
| Website | File a Complaint (puthiyathalaimurai.com) |
| Fax No. | 04445969534 |
| Address | New Generation Media Corporation Pvt. Ltd., #25-A (N.P.) Industrial Estate, Ekkattuthangal, Guindy, Chennai – 600032. |
News24 Broadcast India Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, News24 Broadcast India Ltd:
| Phone No. | +911203911444, +911203911555 |
| Website | File a Complaint (news24online.com) |
| Fax No. | 01203911444 |
| Subsidiary | News 24 Madhya Pradesh – Chhattisgarh, News24 Think First |
| Address | News24 Broadcast India Ltd. FC 23, Film City, Sector–16A, Noida – 201301. |
Sun TV Network Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, Sun News (Sun TV Network Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914444676767 |
| Website | File a Complaint (sunnetwork.in) |
| Fax No. | 04440676161 |
| Address | Sun TV Network Ltd. Murasoli Maran Towers, 73, MRC Nagar Main Road, MRC Nagar, Chennai – 600028. |
TV18 Broadcast Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, TV18 Broadcast Ltd.:
| Phone No. | +911204341818 |
| complaint@nw18.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (nw18.com) |
| Fax No. | 01166173955 |
| Address | TV18 Broadcast Ltd. Express Trade Tower, Plot No. 15 & 16, Sector 16A Film City, Noida – 201301. |
| Subsidiary | CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Bajaar, CNBC TV 18, CNN NEWS18, News18 Assam/North East, News18 Bangla, News18 Bihar/Jharkhand, News18 Gujarati, News18 India, News18 Jammu/Kashmir/Ladakh/Himachal, News18 Kannada, News18 Kerala, News18 Madhya Pradesh/Chattisgarh, News18 Odia, News18 Punjab/Haryana, News18 Rajasthan, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand |
TV Today Network Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, TV Today Network Ltd.:
| Phone No. | +911204807100, +917042489008 (WhatsApp) |
| grievanceofficer@aajtak.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (aajtak.in) |
| Fax No. | 01204807172 |
| Address | TV Today Network Ltd. India Today Mediaplex, FC 8, Sector 16 A, Film City, Noida – 201301. |
| Subsidiary | Aaj Tak, Aajtak HD, Good News Today, India Today |
Writemen Media Pvt. Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, Public TV (Writemen Media Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +918022224444 |
| legal@writemenmedia.com, editor@writemenmedia.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (publictv.in) |
| Fax No. | 08023574042 |
| Address | Writemen Media Pvt. Ltd., 4th Floor, TTMC, BMTC Building, Yeshwanthpura Circle, Yeshwanthpura, Bengaluru 560022. |
Zee Media Corporation Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, Zee Media Corporation Ltd.:
| Phone No. | +911207153000 |
| Website | File a Complaint (zeenews.india.com) |
| Fax No. | 1202515381 |
| Address | Zee Media Corporation Ltd. No 19, Film City, Sector 16A, NOIDA – 201301. |
| Subsidiary | WION, Zee 24 Kalak, Zee 24 Taas, Zee Bihar Jharkhand, Zee Business, Zee Delhi NCR Haryana, Zee Hindustan, Zee Madhya Pradesh Chattisgarh, Zee News, Zee Punjab Haryana Himachal, Zee Rajasthan, Zee Salaam, Zee Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand |
Indiadotcom Digital Pvt. Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, Indiadotcom Digital Pvt. Ltd.:
| Phone No. | +911204997833 |
| legal.idpl@india.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (india.com) |
| Address | Indiadotcom Digital Pvt. Ltd. FC-19, Sector 16A, Noida 201301. |
Indira Television Ltd.
Grievance Officer NBDSA, Sakshi (Indira Television Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914023256000 |
| companysecretary@sakshi.com | |
| Website | File a Complaint (sakshi.com) |
| Address | Indira Television Ltd. 6-3-248/3, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad – 500034. |
Malayalam Communications Ltd.
Grievance Officer, Kairali News (Malayalam Communications Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +914712386572 |
| Fax No. | 04712386501 |
| Website | File a Complaint (kairalitv.in) |
| Address | Malayalam Communications Ltd., Kairali Towers, Asan Square, Palayam, University P O, Thiruvananthapuram – 695034. |
Quintillion Business Media Ltd.
Grievance Officer, BQ Prime (Quintillion Business Media Ltd.):
| Phone No. | +912245404148 |
| grievance@bqprime.com | |
| Fax No. | 02245404100 |
| Website | File a Complaint (bqprime.com) |
| Address | Quintillion Business Media Ltd. 11th Floor, South Wing, The Ruby, 29, Senapati Bapat Marg, Dadar West, Mumbai – 400028. |
Total Telefilms Pvt. Ltd.
Compliance Officer NBDSA, Total TV/Haryana (Total Telefilms Pvt. Ltd.):
| Phone No. | 01204692700 |
| gmoperation@totaltv.in | |
| Website | File a Complaint (totaltv.in) |
| Address | Total Telefilms Pvt. Ltd., A-29, Sector 63, Noida – 201301. |
After the successful filing of the complaint to the respective grievance officers of the news broadcasters, wait for 14 days to get the final response. Also, note down the reference/complaint number to use it for future purposes.
If not satisfied with the final redressal or complaints are not resolved within 14 days, lodge a grievance to the News Broadcasters & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) within 7 days after the final response or expiry of the time limit. Follow the procedure & instructions as mentioned below.
NBDSA: Lodge an Online Complaint to NBDSA
News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) is an independent regulatory body set up by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association to adjudicate upon and hear the complaints about the news broadcasters registered as member/associate members of NBDA.
Approach NBDSA, if your registered complaints about the news, show, or content that violates the norms & code of ethics and broadcasting standards of NBDA and also not resolved within 14 days or dissatisfied with the final response of the Grievance Officer of news broadcasters/agency.
In this situation, one must file an online complaint to NBDSA within 14 days of getting the response from the news agency or after the expiry of the given resolution period.
You may also write a complaint letter in the given format (English or Hindi language) to the NBDSA authority and send a copy of the complaint form to the respective grievance officer of the News Channel/Broadcaster.
Lodge an Online Complaint to News Broadcasters & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA):
| Register an Online Complaint to NBDSA | File a Complaint |
| Decisions of Authority | Click Here |
| Download Complaint Form | English | Hindi |
Provide the Following Information in the Complaint Form:
- A copy of the complaint letter was sent to the broadcaster and a reply was received (if any).
- Name, address, and detail of news broadcaster.
- Details of the news items/ programme, and specify the date, time, and channel of broadcast.
- Summary of the matter or issue along with the precept of the code of ethics that was breached. Read the booklet “Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, NBDA” and know the regulations.
- All other relevant evidence (video, image, or posts) and documents related to the matter/case.
Send the complaint form/letter to the designated authority of NBDSA at the official address:
- Address: News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority, [Formerly known as News Broadcasting Standards Authority], Mantec House, C-56/5, 2nd Floor, Sector 62, Noida – 201301.
- Phone No: +911204129712
- E-mail: authority@nbanewdelhi.com
After receiving the complaint form from the complainant, the final decision will be delivered by the authority (NBDSA) within 3 months (as far as possible). Acknowledgement receipt or reference number will be sent to notify further inquiries & initiatives taken by the authority.
Note – If not satisfied with the final decision of NBDSA, you may escalate the matter or lodge an online grievance on the CPGRAMS portal to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India. Attach copies of the final order delivered by the authority and mention the details of the case against the news channel & broadcaster.
Code of Ethics & Guidelines
The list of categories of complaints under the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards for self-regulation and guidelines for news reporting, report if violated by the news channels/broadcasters.
1. Code of Ethics – Principles of Self-regulation:
- Endangering national security
- Depiction of violence or intimidation against women and children
- Impartiality and objectivity in reporting
- Refraining from advocating or encouraging superstition or occultism
- Sex, nudity, and violation of privacy
- Ensuring neutrality, Sting operations, or Corrigendum
- Reporting on crime and safeguards to ensure crime and violence are not glorified
2. Specific Guidelines Covering Reporting:
- Sting operations, accuracy, or breach of privacy.
- Racial & religious harmony, or misleading by supernatural, occultism & paranormal news.
- Related to children’s interests, impartiality, neutrality & fairness.
- Concerns of good taste & decency or sex & nudity.
- Matters related to national security, law & order, or crime & violence.
3. Guidelines for:
- Paid news, election broadcastings, or broadcast of potential defamatory content.
- Conducting sting operations, telecasting news affecting public order, or reporting by the business channels.
- To prevent communal color in reporting crime, and reporting the injured/ill or court proceedings.
- Reportage of cases of sexual assault or media reporting on children approved by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court.
- Others
Frequently Asked Questions about NBDSA
Q. Where can I register a complaint against the news channels about news reporting?
A. As per the guidelines of NBDSA, first you can file a complaint to the Grievance Officer of the respective news broadcaster/channel. Visit ” Whom to Complaint – Broadcaster” and know the contact details of the designated officers. You may also check the list in the section above.
Q. Where can I file a complaint if not satisfied with the responses of Grievance Officers of news broadcasters?
A. You may file an online complaint or write to the News Broadcasters & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) within 14 days after receiving the response from the grievance officer of news broadcasters. To know more read above.
