ITV

Category: political ads

  • Political ads on TV: After EC rap, I&B blames media

    NEW DELHI: Fazed by the Election Commission’s stand — or non stand — on political ads on TV and radio, India’s information and broadcasting ministry today sought to give a spin to the whole issue saying that a section of the media is to be blamed for the controversy.
     
    However, government officials also admitted that in the light of events and the twists and turns that has been seen, political ads would not surface on TV channels or on radio.
    According to a government official today, the I&B ministry had only sought the EC’s guidance on the issue, though the Act concerned bans on any sort of political advertising on TV and radio.

    On Sunday, while announcing the dates for the general elections in four phases, the EC had lashed out at I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad for “misleading the media” on the issue of political ads on the electronic medium. The EC clarified that the Commission had no role to play in the matter as an “Act of Parliament bans such advertising and the Commission cannot go against the Act.”

    Today, I&B officials said that the government would “continue to unreservedly abide by any directive, which the Commission may issue from time to time,” adding that to say I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad “sought to mislead” the media on this issue is “factually incorrect and also unfair.”

    While putting a spin to the whole matter, the I&B ministry did not fail to point out that vide its communication dated 19.11.2003, the Election Commission had reiterated its earlier decision dated 20.8.1999 disallowing advertisements by political parties/ candidates on electronic media. Subsequently in the light of judgment of the Andhra Pradesh high court (which upheld the right of political parties to advertise or communicate through TV and radio), the EC issued another communication, dated 22.11.2003, withdrawing its earlier instruction banning political advertisements on electronic media.

    “Because of this the ministry had sought a guidance from the EC,” an official said, adding that the government had also expressed its apprehension in monitoring more than 100 cable and satellite channels, 30,000 cable operators and a large number of local
    channels in local towns and various cities so as to ensure that these political advertisements remain within the Rule Book.

    As the issue of political ads gets buried in rules and rule books, it is highly unlikely that the government or the EC would take any further radical stand on the matter.

  • Political ads on TV still await green signal

    NEW DELHI: The speed-breakers have been removed, but the green signal has not yet come. That’s why the political parties are not making a dash for the nearest TV channel to book airtime.
     
     
    “The Election Commission (EC) is yet to issue any directive in this regard. We are waiting for that,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson M A Naqvi told indiantelevision today, while sources in the Congress Party echoed similar sentiments.

    However, inquires made by indiantelevision.com did reveal that the big national level parties, Congress and the BJP, and some regional ones like the Telegu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh are ready to go on air as soon as EC waves the green flag.

    On Tuesday, in a landmark — some say it’s debatable — judgment the Andhra Pradesh high court struck down a rule under the Cable TV (Network) Regulation Act that bars political advertisements on electronic media, maintaining it discriminated between the print and electronic media.

    The HC also said it was violative of the right to freedom of trade and business. The order was passed by Chief Justice Devender Gupta and Justice Rohini based on a petition filed by Gemini Television Network, ETV and Maa TV, which challenged rule 7 (3) of the Act invoked by the information and broadcasting ministry and the Election Commission to ban telecast of political advertisements.

    But the problem is that mandarins at Nirvachan Sadan, headquarters of EC here, are still unsure how to react to the court directive. Questioned on the issue today, one of the three election commissioners admitted that the EC might take some more days to firm up its view. Quizzed further, whether EC would abide by the court ruling or not, a noncommittal reply was given.

    That the Indian government wanted an escape route on the issue is evident from the fact that the Andhra high court order would not be contested or appealed against by the central government or any of its allies.

    READY TO TAKE OFF

    Meanwhile, a Congress source said that the party expects EC to give a directive on political ads vis-?-vis the electronic medium over the next few days. “The party’s campaign on the electronic medium is scheduled to break soon,” a senior leader said.

    But the Congress leader avoided commenting on a surrogate advertisement that is already the rounds of the channels. This particular ad, released in public interest by a non-governmental organisation, harps on the hollowness of government’s claims on employment, etc. — issues that are also part of the Congress’ communication and media strategy as reported by indiantelevision.com earlier.

    BJP’s Naqvi also maintained that promotional material for the electronic medium is ready and awaiting a directive from the EC and the party’s think-tank.

    However, Naqvi today said he’s not sure whether a film made yesterday at the Prime Minister’s residence by Lintas, while the final one-dayer at Lahore was being played, would be used as part of the party’s election campaign media strategy.

    “There was a move to use images of the PM watching the cricket match in campaigns. But now we are not sure whether it would be done or not. Or, whether cricket would be linked at all or not?” he said. Though, a similar image was released for the print medium and was also carried by some newspapers.

    Incidentally, Lintas shot a film featuring the PM enjoying yesterday’s cricket match along with his foster family.