Hyderabad: Cable TV operators in Telangana have stopped the telecasting of two Telugu news channels — TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothy — after the state government accused them of deliberately denigrating and mocking the Telangana legislature in their programmes.
Though officially the state government has not taken any decision to ban the channels, the Telangana cable operators association has stopped carrying the signals of the two channels in protest against their “anti Telangana” attitude, an allegation denied by both the channels.
Significantly Andhra-based companies own both the channels. Andhra-based individuals owned most of the Telugu media in Andhra Pradesh and they had often come under criticism from the proponents of Telangana for their biased coverage.
What came as an immediate provocation for the Telangana legislative assembly was a TV9 programme in which lawmakers were ridiculed and mocked.
“It is like people who used to watch films in touring talks have come and sit in the multiplex,” was how the Telangana legislative assembly described in that programme.
After the video clips of the programme were watched by the Speakers and floor leaders, the state legislative assembly decided to take action against the channel for breach of privilege.
ABN Andhra Jyothy managing director Radhakrishna strongly condemned the blacking out of the channel and blamed it on the vindictive nature of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.
The opposition Telugu Desam has also come out in support of the channels. TDP Telangana unit president L. Ramanna said that his party will not allow restrictions on media.
“How can you put restrictions on [the] media for giving constructive suggestions?” he asked.
