BANGALORE, Feb 4: Udaya TV telecasts `Devaru Kotta Thangi' -- a Jayanthi starrer in Kannada while Doordarshan cannot. For, Jayanthi -- a versatile actress -- is contesting Lok Sabha elections on a Lok Shakti ticket from Chikkaballapur constituency in Karnataka.The Election Commission (EC) is very clear in its guidelines -- Doordarshan shall not telecast any entertainment programme, like cinema or serials starring the candidates contesting the elections. This in reality applies to private channels, as well.
As a result, Doordarshan Kendras (DDKs) all over the country are suffering heavy losses while private channels are raking in the moolah. Says Bangalore Doordarshan Director N G Srinivas: ``We are now forced to telecast a movie or a serial only after thorough screening... No candidate should have acted in the movie we telecast''.
Doordarshan Kendras all over the country have been forced to telecast mostly old movies. ``Viewership for the old movies are less as compared to the new ones, andhence advertisers backtrack to sponsor them'', adds the Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra Director.
Private channels -- be it Zee TV, Sun TV, Asia Net, Gemini TV, Eenadu TV or Udaya TV -- do not face this threat. Advertisers flock these popular private channels as they telecast popular Hindi cinema while DD is being edged out of focus. For DD, a Vinod Khanna starrer is a taboo while private channels never consider so.
Piqued by the discriminatory attitude, the DD Directorate is up in arms against the EC, demanding a `level-playing-field' along with the private channels. Unlike in the past, the DDKs now come under the Prasar Bharati Corporation, and they cannot afford to lose the routine revenue.
At a meeting held with the Commission authorities in New Delhi last week, top officials of the directorate pointed out that the guidelines were being applied only to Doordarshan. Private channels cocked a snook at the guidelines, the Commission was told.
The Election Commission -- burdened by the stupendous job ofconducting the elections in this largest democracy -- has hardly any time to take cognisance of these lapses. ``We are helpless'', said an EC official.
As the guidelines are not backed by law most of the time, the private channels have scant regard for them. The Commission, however, relies on a law that the officials believe could be used against the erring private channels.
According to the Telegraph (amendment) Act, 1914 even a radio set receiving communication is a telegraph.
Under section four of the Act either the Central Government or an agency authorised by it can maintain a telegraph subject to the conditions and rules made from time to time. Likewise, the section 20 says if any person maintains a telegraph flouting sec 4 or the rules made under that section, he shall be punished if the telegraph is a wireless telegraph .
The penalty is imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine or with both and in any other case with a fine which may extend to Rs 1000.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
