The Cable TV Operators Association of Andhra Pradesh affiliated members have blocked the carriage of signals from Sakshi TV, a member of the NBDA, and three other news broadcasters, namely, TV9, NTV, and 10TV for allegedly criticising Naidu’s Telugu Desam party (TDP).
“NBDA seeks the intervention of the Government of Andhra Pradesh to urge the cable operators to review their stand and avoid a situation of confrontation that is neither in the interest of the stakeholders nor in the public interest.”
“No reasons have been attributed for blocking the signals of these channels, which is contrary to the TRAI regulations. It is alleged that the action taken against the channels is in connection with their reporting criticising the TDP, which defeated the incumbent Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party in state-level elections,” it added.
The NBDA said that the step taken by a few cable operators is not in the interest of broadcasters, the media, or the public and sets a dangerous precedent.
It added that political parties must recognise that broadcasters have the freedom to decide what to telecast, and such editorial freedom cannot be subject to any interference.”Such interference would lead to the media losing its independence, and it would result in the violation of Article 19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India. The boycott of channels is not the way forward and alludes to a threat to the freedom of the press,” the NBDA statement reads.NBDA noted that such arbitrary action has far-reaching consequences for the business of the broadcasters, causing substantial daily losses while also significantly impacting the viewership adversely, thereby affecting the channel’s ratings and consequently the advertisement revenue.
This situation also has long-term implications for the relationship between the broadcasters and the advertisers, the association said.
