[cr-india] "Election panel allows ads on FM channels"

[sajan venniyoor]

**Arti wrote;

>  What if one party or candidate flooded a CR station with his or her ads -
> it would almost seem as if the station was "owned" by that party.
>

Sure it would, unless the station was allowed to provide a context of
impartial news coverage and analysis which, of course, they are not allowed
to do. In its 1995 judgment, the Supreme Court had warned of the
manipulation of news and views by powerful commercial and political
interests. They were practically writing the narrative for radio.

Vickram writes:

> I propose a via media: each station may establish an independent support
> fund, whose principal, and eventually earnings, be earmarked to run the
> station. In return, the station may read out the list of donors on regular
> broadcasts.


That may well be construed as sponsorship, which is forbidden. (Concepts
like 'sponsorship' and 'advertisement' are poorly defined. In Australia,
where sponsorship is permitted but advertisements are not, a CR station came
within a whisker of being
fined<http://bowral.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/no-fine-for-radio-station-ad-breach/1358282.aspx>for
not including the word 'sponsor' in their sponsorship announcement. In
India, you'd lose your license if you mentioned 'sponsor'. I wonder if we
could get away with 'donor', as in "This programme was supported by the
following donors..." H'm).

Sajan


On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 9:27 AM, Vickram Crishna <v1clist at yahoo.co.uk>wrote:

> It will be very hard for any fledgling CR station to avoid being tainted by
> advertising money - whether there's fire behind the smoke or not.
>
> I propose a via media: each station may establish an independent support
> fund, whose principal, and eventually earnings, be earmarked to run the
> station. In return, the station may read out the list of donors on regular
> broadcasts. Each station can decide for itself when to do this, and how
> often to repeat donor names.
>
>  Vickram
> http://communicall.wordpress.com
> http://vvcrishna.wordpress.com
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Arti Jaiman <arti at trfindia.org>
> *To:* CR India <cr-india at sarai.net>; sajan venniyoor <venniyoor at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Monday, 17 November, 2008 9:14:37
> *Subject:* Re: [cr-india] "Election panel allows ads on FM channels"
>
> Assuming the same conditions are applicable to CR stations, isn't it about
> time the forum arrived at agreed upon norms for accepting advertising on CR
> stations.
>
> What if one party or candidate flooded a CR station with his or her ads -
> it would almost seem as if the station was "owned" by that party.
>
>
> Arti
>
> Arti Jaiman Project Manager: TRF Radio arti at trfindia.org www.trfindia.org
> www.jaiman.org www.pitara.com
>
>
> --- On Mon, 17/11/08, sajan venniyoor <venniyoor at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> > Date: Monday, 17 November, 2008, 8:47 AM
> > *Election panel allows ads on FM channels*
>
> >
> > YOU COULD soon hear the election campaign on your favourite
> > FM channel.
> >
> > The Election Commission has decided to allow political ads
> > on private radio > channels and asked the Information and Broadcasting
> > Ministry to amend the > relevant laws to facilitate the move.
> >
> > The decision came on a request from the I&B Ministry, > which had wanted
> the
> > EC to allow political ads on radio like private TV > channels.
> >
> >  With the EC's green signal, the ministry will have to > amend the AIR
> code
> > (Code for Commercial Advertising on All India Radio) to > allow political
> > campaign slots with the condition being that the ads cannot > malign
> rival
> > parties.
> >
> > Radio operators are looking forward to the development as > their
> revenues are
> > likely to shoot if they carry political ads.
> >
> > The EC agreed with the view of the I&B ministry that > since TV channels
> are
> > allowed to carry campaign ads following a Supreme Court > order, FM
> channels
> > too should be allowed to do so.
> >
> > The EC stopped political ads on radio and TV in February > 2004. It had
> cited
> > the AIR code and the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, > 1995, which
> > prohibited political ads.
> >
> > Later, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) challenged > the decision
> in
> > the Supreme Court, arguing broadcasters should be treated > on a par with
> the
> > print media. The apex court delivered a verdict in support > of the TV
> > channels. The radio was not covered.
> >
> > siyer at hindustantimes.com
> > _______________________________________________
> >
>
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