Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Sunday, Apr 18, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Sunday, Apr 18, 2004 |
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Cinema Marketing - Advertising Industry & Economy - Radio/TV Government - Politics Airing programmes on poll eve — TV channels face dilemma over `political' stars Nithya Subramanian
New Delhi , April 17 CAN Smriti `Tulsi' Irani appear in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi or Kuch Diiil Se just a couple of days before Chandini Chowk votes? Or can movie channels air films of stars such as Govinda, Dharmendra or Jayapradha who are contesting elections? The large cast of stars from the big and small screen lined up by various political parties have put television channels in a quandary. They are looking into the issue of whether or not serials and films casting these actors or actresses can be aired 48 hours before close of polls. According to a senior official in Star India: "We are internally examining the issue and do not want to violate any norms." Delhi goes to polls on Monday, May 10 during the fourth phase of election and incidentally, the two shows featuring Smriti Irani are not aired during the weekends. Mr Markand Adhikari, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network (Sab TV) said: "This is the first time that there are so many star candidates and so many television channels. Hence it is a unique situation. We will have to check with the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF, which is an industry body)." The Election Commission (EC) has, so far, not issued any guidelines to television channels on this. The channels, on their part, want to remain on the right side of the law. Mr Sunil Khanna, President, Zee Telefilms said: "None of our television stars are contesting the elections. But we do not want to go against the law. If the EC issues any fresh norms, we will abide by it." Broadcasters said that they would rejig their programming if the need arose. Industry sources said it would be difficult for the EC to monitor all the channels. "The popular channels not are likely to flout the rules, but there are a number of local cable channels that could be misused," they said. A large number of popular channels have burgeoned in the television space during the last five years and the issue of using television for poll-related campaigning is currently being widely debated. Recently, the Supreme Court permitted political advertising on television channels and appointed the EC as the regulator. However, here too, it had clearly said that advertising on these channels would have to stop two days before close of voting.
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