NBF condemns TN Arasu Cable’s blackout of Puthiya Thalaimurai

The News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) has strongly condemned the continued blackout of Puthiya Thalaimurai - one of the crucial member of the NBF - by the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Network (TACTV) — a state-owned distribution platform that has no legal or moral authority to arbitrarily silence a legitimate news broadcaster.

This prolonged and unexplained blackout, for over 10-days now, amounts to state-sponsored censorship and is a serious violation of press freedom and the citizens’ right to access news without obstruction. By denying carriage to Puthiya Thalaimurai, the state network has weaponised public infrastructure to suppress independent journalism, curb free expression, and manipulate the flow of information to millions of Tamil Nadu’s citizens, stated a press release from NBF.

NBF considers this a dangerous and deliberate attack on the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. The use of government-controlled networks to selectively block media outlets critical or independent of the state sets a deeply troubling precedent for media freedom in India.

“NBF is deeply concerned at this continuing attempt to strangulate the freedom of the press through coercive and unjustified measures,” said Arnab Goswami, Founding-President of NBF. “This blackout denies citizens their fundamental right to access independent news and threatens the very spirit of democracy. Such misuse of state power cannot and will not be tolerated.”

The News Broadcasters Federation demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of Puthiya Thalaimurai News Channel on all the 17.5 million subscribers of Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Network platforms. NBF also urges the Government of Tamil Nadu to investigate this deliberate act of censorship and take action against those responsible for violating the principles of free media.

Further, NBF calls upon the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to urgently ensure that no state or private distribution network can obstruct citizens’ access to news or discriminate against broadcasters under any pretext.