Vijayawada: In a repeat of what happened in Telangana a few months ago, cable TV operators across AP have blocked N TV news channel for the last three days.
They are also planning to block Sakshi TV, owned by YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The MSOs however say N TV is not being telecast due to technical reasons.
When contacted, a senior official of N TV, owned by Mr Narendranath Chowdary, told DC, “We have been flooded with reports from 13 districts that all MSOs have been told to stop airing our channel; we are constantly in touch with the MSOs, finding out reasons for this and we will come out with an official version from our side within the next two days.”
N TV and Sakshi News have been continually telecasting the video clippings of the cash-for-vote case along with the audio clipping of TS nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson’s alleged conversation with AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ever since the issue came to light.
It is being rumoured that some influential persons in the AP government have brought pressure on the MSOs and had even called them for a meeting two days ago here and instructed them not to telecast the channels.
The MSOs were also allegedly threatened by these heavyweights with serious repercussions, like heavy taxes, if they did not tow the line.
It is also being rumoured that industrialist Jupally Rameswara Rao (of My Homes) who is a close confidant of Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao, had reportedly bought 11 per cent shares in N TV 10 days ago. This was apparently another reason for the AP heavyweights to pressurise the MSOs to block it. However, an N TV official said that there was no truth in the report.
The channel was blocked three days ago in Vizag and Vijayawada and other urban areas and later in rural areas. In Nandigama of Krishna district it was on till Sunday afternoon.
The channel is being broadcast at Pulivendula in Kadapa even though it was blocked elsewhere in the district. However, N TV is being aired on all DTH services.
