The Hindu : Nod for DD news channel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 30, 2003

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Nod for DD news channel

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 29. The Election Commission today gave the green signal for the launch of Doordarshan's 24-hour news channel in the hope that "neutrality, objectivity and fairness" would be maintained during the run-up to the Assembly polls.

The Commission communicated its decision to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Prasar Bharati this morning even as the Delhi High Court dismissed a public interest litigation petition filed by the DD Metro Producers' Association to stop the conversion of Metro channel into a news channel. These decisions have ended the air of uncertainty over the proposed launch of DD News on November 3 as the Commission sought clarifications last week.

The Commission said today that it "does not wish to say anything on the need for or the timing of the opening of such a news channel, ostensibly to provide more news and information to the viewing public". This said, the Commission's letter notes that "in the context of the current elections to the Assemblies of five States, however, the Commission is concerned about the possibilities of the news and related programmes of the State-owned media being misused".

The clearance has come on the assurance given by the Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, K. S. Sarma — who appeared before the Commission on Tuesday — that Doordarshan would follow the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit, and no political person would be roped in to inaugurate the channel. "The Commission expects that the Prasar Bharati Corporation will maintain neutrality, objectivity and fairness of the public broadcasting/telecasting during this sensitive period,'' the letter said.

The Commission had sought a report from the Ministry after protests against Doordarshan's plans to launch the channel. Meanwhile, citing the Cable Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000 — according to which every cable operator will have to carry at least two Doordarshan terrestrial channels and one regional channel in the prime band — the Government has notified that DD News will be a "must carry" channel in place of Metro which is being elbowed out for news. Beginning November 3, all cable operators will have to show DD National, DD News and DD Bharati if they are in Delhi and the Hindi-speaking belt or the corresponding regional channel elsewhere.

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