NaMo TV a "News Service", says Tata Sky, raises more questions for Centre

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Apr 04, 2019 : NaMo TV is a "Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics", DTH service provider Tata Sky has tweeted, intensifying the mystery over the channel exclusively featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches and pro-BJP content in election season. The channel was quietly launched on March 31 (Sunday), and promoted by the ruling BJP as well as related accounts, NDTV reported.

 

In a tweet soon after its launch, PM Modi posted a tweet urging people to watch his interaction with chowkidars live on NaMoTV.

The Election Commission has asked for a report on NaMo TV from the Information and Broadcasting ministry amid opposition allegations that the ruling party has launched a channel to push its campaign in gross violation of the code of conduct in place for the April-May national election.

On Wednesday, top sources in the Information and Broadcasting ministry claimed that NaMo TV is an "advertising platform" that does not need the government’s approval.

The broadcast ministry, which is preparing its reply, says NaMo TV "is not a normal channel" and does not figure in the official list of approved channels of the ministry. It is not on the list of permitted private satellite TV channels on the ministry’s website.

"It is a kind of advertising platform launched by the service provider, currently being run on some DTH platforms," sources said on Wednesday. The sources said no approval is required to run such platforms.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, asked about NaMo TV, told NDTV, "Let the appropriate authorities answer. Let the Information and Broadcasting and EC (Election Commission) comment on it. You and I should not get into it."