DTH service provider Tata Sky has sensationally revealed that NaMo TV was a ‘Hindi news service’ that provided the ‘latest breaking news on national politics’ and viewers had no option to delete the channel from their packs.
In a series of tweets, Tata Sky wrote, “Channel no 512 is NAMO TV, it is a Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics.”
Channel no 512 is NAMO TV, it is a Hindi news service which provides the latest breaking news on national politics ^Rudra
— Tata Sky (@TataSky) March 28, 2019
In its subsequent tweet, the DTH provider wrote, “Hi, this channel is added to all the subscribers as a launch offer. There is no option to delete the individual channel. However, we have made a note of your feedback and shall look into it.”
This was in response to a user’s query asking, “I have not opted for NaMo Tv..than why its being running on my connection…(sic)”
Hi, this channel is added to all the subscribers as a launch offer. There is no option to delete the individual channel. However, we have made a note of your feedback and shall look into it.
— Tata Sky (@TataSky) April 4, 2019
After the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party approached the Election Commission over the launch of NaMo TV ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the national poll body sought a report from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. According to the Congress and the AAP, the launch of NaMo TV on 31 March violated the model code of conduct.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken to Twitter to inform his millions of followers about the launch of the TV channel. He had written, “The day we were most looking forward to is here! At 5 PM, lakhs of Chowkidars from different parts of India will interact in the historic #MainBhiChowkidar programme. This is an interaction you must not miss. Watch it live on the NaMoApp or NaMo TV.”
The day we were most looking forward to is here!
At 5 PM, lakhs of Chowkidars from different parts of India will interact in the historic #MainBhiChowkidar programme.
This is an interaction you must not miss.
Watch it live on the NaMoApp or NaMo TV. pic.twitter.com/XXKkLUuE7X
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 31, 2019
Curiously, the I&B ministry had said that NaMo TV was ‘not a normal channel’ adding that it did not figure in the official list of approved channels of the ministry. “It is a kind of advertising platform launched by the service provider, currently being run on some DTH platforms,” NDTV had quoted sources as saying.
However, the latest revelation by Tata Sky has sharply contradicted the claims made by the I&B ministry. The channel’s placement right next to some of the most popular Hindi news channels such as Aaj Tak and Zee News show that it’s designed to have the maximum impact on the news consuming public.