Unauthorised Namo TV channel run by BJP, says Tata Sky to NDTV

Patronised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called upon his supporters to watch his interaction live on Namo App or Namo TV, the 24 hour TV channel continues to be on air without any permission from any regulatory authority.

NaMo TV is not among the 901 channels listed under the head Private Permitted Satellite TV Channels on the website of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Although the Election Commission has called for a report, the I & B Ministry has informed the media that it was an ‘advertising channel’ and hence did not require any permission. The unattributed submission indicates what the Election Commission of India’s stand will be.

Meanwhile, NDTV reported on Thursday that one of the platforms, DTH service provider Tata Sky, has informed that Namo TV was not a ‘normal channel’, that it was a special advertising channel which was being offered to subscribers free as a launch offer.

NDTV also reported that Tata Sky deleted its tweet saying Namo TV was a Hindi News Service. Pressed for more details, the Tata Sky CEO asked NDTV to get more details from the client, which, he said, is the Bharatiya Janata Party. This is the first admission by anyone about the link of the TV channel with BJP and the Prime Minister.

The Namo Channel went live on March 31 and despite complaints to the Election Commission, it has not been stopped from broadcasting the Prime Minister’s election speeches.

Media observers point out that this is the first example in the world of a TV channel dedicated to one political leader. While political parties in India, especially in the South, have owned TV channels ( Kalaignar TV, Kairali TV, Jaya News, Sun TV are some examples ), they were made to go through regulatory channels and secure the requisite permission.

A company should have a net worth of Rs.20 crore to commence operations in India. It has to obtain permissions and licences, beginning with the licence for setting up the uplink hub, approval for uplinking from India and a no objection certificate from the Wireless Planning Commission of India.

It has to submit its share-holding pattern (which is a public document) and a mandatory security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Media professionals and experts are outraged and are clearly not convinced with the informal explanations offered so far.

Supreme Court lawyer Apar Gupta tweeted : Prior to the launch of any television channel a thorough scrutiny is done which includes a security clearance. Shocking for a channel to be launched without compliance. Greater affront to the rule of law given the same license conditions have been harshly applied in the past.

Former Prasar Bharti CEO Jawhar Sircar tweeted, “ NaMo TV: Country is watching the Election Commission” Why are we shying in recognising that this Election Commission is just too spineless— we don’t need Seshans all the time, all we need uptight men who don’t crouch before a dictatorial PM !

Journalist Rohini Singh wondered, “ Imagine if NaMo TV was an @INCIndia venture during UPA. A channel, whose funding, details of permission and ownership is opaque, brazenly operating and making a mockery of the model code of conduct. Imagine the furore. Blog minister would have uploaded a 1000 video blogs by now!

Arun Jaitley, asked to comment on Namo TV, skirted the issue by saying that the I&B Ministry would respond.

Some of the tweets:

More twists re: NaMo TV: the CEO of @TataSky tells me NaMo TV is a Special Services channel, not a regular channel. Says Tweet by @TataSky describing it as a Hindi News Service is wrong! Says for more, ask BJP - the client. (So at least now we know who the client is.)

"An official in the I&B ministry said it is possibly a first in the history of broadcasting in India that a channel had gone on air without any permission from the government or even applying for it."