TV channels must pay royalty to artists for repeat telecast of their work, says renowned actor, comedian, writer and poet Shailesh Lodha, who is famous for playing the role of Taarak Mehta in the longest running sitcom, ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’.

In a webinar conversation with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now, a platform for analysis of public policy and governance issues, Lodha has said that TV industry pays on per-day basis and if an artist’s work is repeated they must get royalty for their work.

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The actor said that unlike the western nations where markets are evolved and progressed, no royalty is given to artists for repeat telecasts here. “Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) should come out with solutions for such issues and the channels must consider this and evolve a system…. if a system was in place.... the lockdown would not have impacted artists the way it did,” said Lodha during the webinar as part of the Visionary Talks Series on Monday.

Earlier episodes of the Visionary Talks Series can be accessed here: www.governancenow.com/visionary-talks-series

“It was because of repeat telecasts that TV consumption increased during the lockdown and the channels did not earn revenues which otherwise would not have happened,” he observed.

The actor also said that the TV and entertainment industry could have taken better care of the needs of its daily wage and underprivileged workers like spot boys and technicians. He added that the entertainment industry is part of the society and timely aid for these workers could have helped avoid loss of lives to an extent.

Lodha was speaking on the plight of Indian television industry, one of the sectors most impacted by Covid-19.

Responding to question on how allied activities like appearances and brand endorsements have been impacted due to the ‘new normal’ of virtual and online appearances and when the revival could happen, he replied that for a performer, interaction and appreciation from live audience is crucial and important. “It has become a buyer’s market now when both income and satisfaction level have decreased,” said Lodha.