The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : I&B blocks programmes of `Mana' TV

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 28, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

I&B blocks programmes of `Mana' TV

By R. Ravikanth Reddy

HYDERABAD, JULY 27. Viewers in the State have been deprived access to educational and developmental programmes aired through the four channels of `Mana' TV owing to an archaic clause in broadcasting laws, which bars the State Governments from telecasting the channels on their own. Consequently, the reach of the educational channels being run by the Society for Andhra Pradesh Network (SAPNET), an independent body set up by the State Government, has been severely restricted. Only those who subscribe to the programmes can view them today -- all of 2,000-odd sets that receive the exclusive signals. The price of the receiver sets is high deterring their installation in individual homes.

Centre's charge

`unfounded'

The channels, when launched in 2002, were accessible to the local cable network and as such could reach all the households. However, the then Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sushma Swaraj, took objection to the telecast of channels through the cable network stating that broadcasting was a Central subject and States do not have any right to run their own channels. Subsequently, the cable operators took them off the air.

The argument that they were promoting educational and developmental activities reaching the needy in the remote places did not cut ice with the Central Government, which according to some officials was under the impression that the previous Government was promoting itself through these channels. "The charge was unfounded and moreover, the channels were not run by the Government but an independent body SAPNET," says an official involved in the functioning of the channels.

Political decision

curbs channels' reach

The "political" decision has now limited the reach of these channels to just 2,000 and odd sets that take the signals. These sets are placed in 582 schools, including social welfare & tribal welfare; 163 Government degree colleges, 567 junior colleges, 9 medical colleges, 64 polytechnics, 24 B.R. Ambedkar Open University centres, 330 MPDO offices and five Police Training Colleges, and the channels beam a variety of programmes aimed at different categories.

`Channel-1' broadcasts pre-recorded educational programmes for BRAOU, junior and degree colleges, polytechnics and engineering colleges while `Channel-2' provides live interactive lectures with a facility to call back through a toll free number and get their doubts cleared. The latter is effectively used by AP Open Schools, Velugu Project working to empower women and farmers. `Channel-3' telecasts video capsules for the benefit of Government functionaries familiarising them to the financial and administrative procedures while `Channel-4' is exclusively meant for primary and secondary schools covering their educational activity.

CM writes to

I&B Ministry

"The limited reach hurts us given the quality and variety of programmes we produce. Lakhs of students can benefit as they can listen to lectures from the most senior and experienced faculty if the channels are aired through cable," says V. Rama Rao, who has taken over as the CEO of SAPNET recently. Realising the potential, Mr. Rao approached the Government to take up the issue with the Central Government.

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