The legislation, if approved by the parliament, would help the country save foreign exchange and monitor programme contents of these channels, she said while inaugurating the annual conference of state information ministers.

Swaraj said a 14-member broadcasting council, comprising eminent persons, would be set up on the pattern of the Press Council of India to provide a forum for the people to register their complaints against the contents of the programmes telecast by Prasar Bharati.

The government recently allowed Indian TV satellite companies with up to 20 per cent foreign equity participation to have the uplinking facility.

But a number of foreign-based companies or those having more than 20 per cent foreign equity participation are at present not allowed thisfacility.

Referring to the proposed freedom for information bill, Swaraj said the government's main concern was to find a "middle path" between the growing demand for free flow of information and protection of the country's culture from "unwanted and excessive" depiction of sex, violence and obscenity in the media.