Tag: EC

Tata Sky terms NaMo TV as ‘Hindi news service’ causing further confusion

MUMBAI: The mystery regarding NaMo TV is rising. Now, DTH operator Tata Sky has termed it as a Hindi news service, which provides the latest breaking news on national politics, on its Twitter handle. It also said that the channel is added to all subscribers as a launch offer and there is "no option to delete the individual channel".

Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) of India sought a reply from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on the sudden launch of NaMo TV. According to a report from The Print, the channel never applied for a broadcast licence and does not even have a compulsory security clearance.

It has been more than a week since its launch but till now there is no clarity on whether the channel has been classified as news or non-news. The report also added that MIB is considering issuing a notice to DTH operators for carrying an unauthorised channel. Media reports also suggest that it is a kind of advertising platform which does not need any kind of approval before going live.

Two political parties, Congress and AAP have raised the matter with the EC questioning its launch especially after the model code of conduct before elections came into force. AAP’s legal cell, in its letter to EC, also raised the question that who would monitor the content of the channel. Neither Content TV nor NaMo TV find a mention in the list of permitted satellite TV channels on the MIB website.

After undergoing a test run for several months, the channel went live as NaMo TV. The channel had no formal launch and there isn’t any information in the public domain about its ownership.

The channel appears to be an extension of the popular NaMo app that contains information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare schemes and other activities. NaMo TV airs programmes related to the Prime Minister, his speeches and government ads. Even BJP social media handles have been tweeting asking viewers to tune in to the channel. The channel is available on Videocon d2h, Dish TV, Tata Sky at 302, 770, and 512 respectively. It also has a picture of the Prime Minister as its logo.

April 4, 2019
NaMo TV launch under scanner as EC seeks response from MIB

MUMBAI: The Election Commission (EC) of India has sought a reply from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on the sudden launch of NaMo TV, which was later renamed as Content TV, last week.

Two political parties, Congress and AAP have raised the matter with the EC questioning its launch especially after the model code of conduct before elections came into force. AAP’s legal cell, in its letter to EC, also raised the question that who would monitor the content of the channel. Neither Content TV nor NaMo TV find a mention in the list of permitted satellite TV channels on the MIB website.

After undergoing a test run for several months, the channel went live as NaMo TV. The channel had no formal launch and there isn’t any information in the public domain about its ownership.

The channel appears to be an extension of the popular NaMo app that contains information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's welfare schemes and other activities. NaMo TV airs programmes related to the Prime Minister, his speeches and government ads. Even BJP social media handles have been tweeting asking viewers to tune in to the channel. The channel is available on Videocon d2h, Dish TV, Tata Sky at 302, 770, and 512 respectively. It also has a picture of the Prime Minister as its logo.

April 3, 2019
EC to screen govt ads; PM photo on hoardings disallowed

NEW DELHI: Even as the Election Commission has set up committees to screen and clear government advertisements in various forms in the five poll-bound states, it has asked the cabinet secretary to remove the prime minister Narendra Modi’s photograph from hoardings at petrol pumps in Goa and gas consumer certificates in Uttarakhand.

These committees will examine all ads including those for audio-visual media including television and radio.

“The Commission had received a complaint that, in Goa, hoardings with photographs of the prime minister were displayed at petrol pumps. The Commission had issued necessary directions on 6 January,” said a letter to the cabinet secretary.

The Commission said it had also received a press clipping showing that certificates bearing the prime minister’s photograph were being distributed by oil companies to the LPG consumers in Uttarakhand who had surrendered gas subsidy.

“This is not permissible under the Model Code of Conduct or under the ECI instructions. You are requested to ensure that the instructions are brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance in letter and spirit,” the Commission said.

Earlier this week, the EC had reminded all concerned about its 2004 order that government-funded advertisements which publicise achievements of political functionaries or parties violate the Model Code of Conduct guidelines.

The Commission had said the posters that publicise achievements of political parties or their functionaries should be either removed or covered suitably in the poll-bound states. Only those government hoardings with general messages on social welfare schemes and awareness campaigns are allowed.

ALSO READ: Schedules fixed for broadcasts in five poll-bound states

ALSO READ: Poll schedule on social media shows unprecedented reach

January 13, 2017
EC to screen govt ads; PM photo on hoardings disallowed

NEW DELHI: Even as the Election Commission has set up committees to screen and clear government advertisements in various forms in the five poll-bound states, it has asked the cabinet secretary to remove the prime minister Narendra Modi’s photograph from hoardings at petrol pumps in Goa and gas consumer certificates in Uttarakhand.

These committees will examine all ads including those for audio-visual media including television and radio.

“The Commission had received a complaint that, in Goa, hoardings with photographs of the prime minister were displayed at petrol pumps. The Commission had issued necessary directions on 6 January,” said a letter to the cabinet secretary.

The Commission said it had also received a press clipping showing that certificates bearing the prime minister’s photograph were being distributed by oil companies to the LPG consumers in Uttarakhand who had surrendered gas subsidy.

“This is not permissible under the Model Code of Conduct or under the ECI instructions. You are requested to ensure that the instructions are brought to the notice of all concerned for strict compliance in letter and spirit,” the Commission said.

Earlier this week, the EC had reminded all concerned about its 2004 order that government-funded advertisements which publicise achievements of political functionaries or parties violate the Model Code of Conduct guidelines.

The Commission had said the posters that publicise achievements of political parties or their functionaries should be either removed or covered suitably in the poll-bound states. Only those government hoardings with general messages on social welfare schemes and awareness campaigns are allowed.

ALSO READ: Schedules fixed for broadcasts in five poll-bound states

ALSO READ: Poll schedule on social media shows unprecedented reach

January 13, 2017
EC to confer awards to media for creating electoral awareness

NEW DELHI: National Media Awards will be presented to media houses for conducting campaigns to educate and make voters aware of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Announcing this, the Election Commission of India asked for entries by 15 November and said the awards will be presented on 25 January, the National Voters Day.

Awards will be given separately to print and electronic media. The Commission has directed Chief Electoral Officers of all states to send nominations of two media houses, which worked to create awareness during elections.

The Commission has directed its award related circular to be uploaded to the Chief Electoral Officer’s website. Media houses may also send their nominations directly to the Election Commission, it said.

A jury constituted by the Election Commission will consider nominations, which should reach it along with the states CEOs’ recommendation by 30 October.

The Election Commission will also award civil society organisations for outstanding campaigning to create voter awareness. Civil societies extending maximum co-operation to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office may be nominated for this award.

Written recommendation of Chief Electoral Officer or District Election Officer should accompany every nomination, it said. Self-nomination would not be considered.

October 26, 2015
Campaigning on the web? Get a certification, says EC

NEW DELHI: The world has gone digital and so has the Indian political system. With more and more political parties using social media for election campaigns, the election commission (EC) has now directed the chief electoral officers of all states and union territories that details of the social media accounts of the candidates (besides the recognised political parties) who are contesting elections have to be communicated to the commission.

Candidates and political parties will now have to keep the EC posted about their social media accounts and websites used for campaigning, expenditure incurred for maintaining the sites and development of advertisement. Besides, the model code of conduct will also become applicable on the social media.

According to the commission, a candidate having an account on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or even apps, has to update the commission with their email ids.

The EC has also stated that campaigning on the web will require pre-certification from competent authorities. No political advertisement can be released to any internet-based website, including social media sites without this pre-certification. This certificate is issued by the media certification and monitoring committees at the district and state level.

Not only this, candidates and political parties in the statement submitted to the EC have to include all expenditure incurred on advertisements on social media. This includes: payments made to internet companies and websites for carrying their advertisements, money paid for developing such content for the web, as well as salaries and wages paid to the workers employed to maintain the social media accounts.

The commission has also stated that the model code of conduct will be applicable to the content posted on the internet. However, the commission will consult the Communication and Information Technology Ministry on the content posted by persons other than the candidates and political parties.

October 25, 2013
EC to start hearing of paid news case against Ashok Chavan

NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court having given its clearance earlier this month, the Election Commission has announced its decision to proceed with the hearings in the “paid news” case against former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan.

The case pertains to a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Madhavrao Kinhalkar, Kirti Somaiya and four others regarding publication of advertisements in various newspapers during the election campaign period for the Maharashtra Assembly held in September-October 2009 ‘in the garb of news eulogising him and his achievements as CM’. Chavan had won assembly polls from Bhokar constituency.

The Commission is to commence hearing on 17 May. Sources in the Commission told indiantelevision.com that the case will be heard expeditiously so that it does not have to start anew under a new incumbent since the Supreme Court noted that chief election commissioner SY Quraishi is laying down office on 10 June.

The complaint alleged that Chavan had showed just Rs 5,379 as the expenses on newspaper advertisements in his accounts filed before the Commission. In the complaint filed on November 2009, it was specifically prayed that the account of election expenses of Chavan under Section 10 A of the Peoples’ Representation Act 1951 should be investigated.

Chavan had moved the Delhi High Court and then the Supreme Court, but both ruled that the EC was well within its rights to probe the accounts.

Justices Altamas Kabir and J. Chelameshwar on 2 May said the EC could go ahead with the probe but the findings should not be made public. The EC had begun proceedings against Chavan on 2 April 2011.

May 16, 2012
Editors Guild steps up tirade against paid news, urges EC to act

NEW DELHI: The Editors Guild has urged the Election Commission to take strong action against candidates and mediapersons who violate the disclosure norms of election expenditure to gain media publicity.

A delegation from the Guild, led by president Rajdeep Sardesai, submitted a memorandum to the Commission, deploring the ‘paid news’ phenomenon. The memorandum cited several recent investigative reports which highlighted the prevalence of this dangerous practice, which threatened the foundations of journalism by eroding public faith in the credibility and impartiality of news reporting. It also vitiated the poll process and prevented a fair election, since richer candidates who could pay for their publicity had a clear advantage, the Guild pointed out.

Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla admitted that the EC did not have the mechanism to monitor the candidates in all 543 constituencies, but some random samples could be examined closely.

Election Commissioner SY Qureshi said Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had been issued notice to reply by 1 February for allegedly paying publications for favourable publicity in the recent assembly election.

The Guild was represented by senior journalists Coomi Kapoor, Mannini Chatterjee and Seema Chisti.

January 25, 2010