Cable operators block 4 news channels in India’s Andhra Pradesh state post-election

According to various news reports across Andhra media, the four TV news broadcasters have been blocked since Thursday, June 6, in connection with their critical reporting of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which defeated the incumbent Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party in state-level elections. 

On June 11, Parliament member S. Niranjan Reddy, of the YSR Congress Party, wrote a letter to the chairperson of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, raising concerns about the ban. In his letter, reviewed by CPJ, he highlighted how such an action violates the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, which ensure fair and non-discriminatory interconnection arrangements among service providers. Reddy also emphasized the impact on press freedom and the public’s right to information.

“The news of the blacking out of four news broadcasters by the Cable TV Operators Association is a disturbing one. It is crucial for the new Andhra Pradesh government to uphold the principles of a free and independent press- to ensure that all broadcasters, regardless of how critical they may be, can operate without interference or censorship,” said Kunāl Majumder, CPJ India Representative. “The public’s right to access diverse sources of information is fundamental to a healthy democracy, and any attempts to silence the media must be swiftly addressed and rectified.”

On June 12, TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state. TDP is also a partner of the ruling alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the federal level.

CPJ’s attempts to contact the Andhra Pradesh Cable TV Operators’ Association were unsuccessful. TDP national spokesperson Deepak Reddy has not responded to CPJ’s message seeking comment.