Cable operators block four news channels in India's Andhra Pradesh state post-election

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year

NEW DELHI—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediate restoration of access to news broadcasters Sakshi TV, TV9, NTV, and 10TV in India's Andhra Pradesh state. CPJ also urges state leaders to ensure all broadcasters can operate freely and without censorship.

Since Thursday, June 6, the four TV news broadcasters have been blocked, allegedly due to their critical reporting of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which recently defeated the incumbent Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party in state-level elections.

Parliament member S. Niranjan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party expressed concerns about the ban in a letter to the chairperson of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on June 11. He emphasized that the action violates the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, which mandate fair and non-discriminatory interconnection arrangements among service providers. Reddy highlighted the impact on press freedom and the public's right to information.

"The news of the blackout of four news broadcasters by the Cable TV Operators Association is a disturbing one. It is crucial for the new Andhra Pradesh government to uphold the principles of a free and independent press to ensure that all broadcasters, regardless of how critical they may be, can operate without interference or censorship," said Kunal Majumder, CPJ India Representative. "The public's right to access diverse sources of information is fundamental to a healthy democracy, and any attempts to silence the media must be swiftly addressed and rectified."

On June 12, TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state. TDP is also a partner of the ruling alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the federal level.

CPJ's attempts to contact the Andhra Pradesh Cable TV Operators' Association were unsuccessful. TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy has not responded to CPJ's message seeking comment.—A CPJ News Alert

Photo caption: Four TV news broadcasters have been blocked since Thursday, June 6, in connection with their critical reporting of the Telugu Desam Party. The party's chief, Chandrababu Naidu, attended India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, at the presidential palace, in New Delhi, India, on June 9, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Adnan Abidi