Maintain standards, Venkaiah tells private broadcasters

VIJAYAWADA, September 28, 2014, V. RAGHAVENDRA

onopoly of AIR, DD was over long ago: Chandrababu

Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs M. Venkaiah Naidu exhorted All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) to adapt to the changing trends and try to report news as speedily as private media organisations do while maintaining standards.

He appealed to private television channels to desist from making news sensational as they could withstand competition only by winning credibility but not by scrambling for TRPs.

Addressing the inaugural function of DD Saptagiri channel here on Saturday, Mr. Naidu said the good old days when people used to converge at public places to listen to AIR news and watch DD at homes were gone but they were not completely out of reckoning as they were still known for values and standards. However, the public sector broadcasters have to make necessary changes in their content and ensure that they kept pace with the private channels.

He appealed to the private channels to be realistic in disseminating information and news which should productively engage people. "Some programmes on television, which become an inseparable part of our lives, spoil our minds. Their impact is so profound that they drive people to commit suicide", he observed and suggested due priority should be given to development news. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu thanked Mr. Venkaiah Naidu for his efforts in getting DD station to be set up in the capital of Andhra Pradesh, which he said was a good beginning for the establishment of many such government institutions and organisations in the capital city.

Saying that AIR and DD were 'original brands' of Indian media, he reminded that these were not the days of their monopoly as more than 800 television channels have come up across the country and making the competition hotter were Facebook and Twitter.