Thread by @newslaundry

There is a new channel on your DTH. It's called "NaMo TV" and streams everything Narendra Modi.

But is it a news channel?
Is it an entertainment channel?
What is it exactly and who owns it?
Who pays for it?

@QuilledWords did some intensive digging to find answers.

⏬#Thread ⏬

Back in 2012, the Gujarat state BJP unit had partnered with 5 local Gujarati channels to launch NaMo TV. But the pioneers of the channel deny any involvement with the current one.

During a recent interview with ABP News, even PM Modi feigned ignorance about the channel.

As it stands today, PM Modi’s official mobile app has a link to NaMo TV. Even the BJP official handle has tweeted about it.

But it is still not clear who owns or funds the 24-hour channel, which borrows the PM's initials and his image for its logo.

https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/1112172662489575424

NaMo TV is in clear violation of several directives issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) as well as broadcasting regulations.

For instance: On Tata Sky, it is available under Hindi movies, Hindi entertainment & Hindi news categories.

NaMo TV also does not appear on the list of permitted private satellite channels, maintained by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, as of March 31.

On this, the I&B Ministry contended that NaMo TV is not a licensed channel but a direct-to-home advertisement platform.

If we go by what I&B Ministry is saying and consider the channel as an ad platform, then NaMo TV even violates the Advertising Code under the 1994 Act.

This is what Section 7(3) of the act says:

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

@QuilledWords spoke to a Former CEC to find out what sort of violations NaMo TV is doing with regards to the Model Code of Conduct & also found out the "opportunity to see" factor.

Read this & more in her full story.
newslaundry.com/2019/04/05/nam…