NO GOVT ADS FOR RADIO STATIONS FANNING TENSION AMONG GROUPS

NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting ministry has underlined that private radio stations that incite “communal passion, preach violence or offend sovereignty and integrity of India” will not be considered for government advertisements.

The ministry, which aims to expand the reach of its messages through private stations, had recently announced a policy for fixation of rates for government advertisements issued through the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP).

The DAVP is the nodal agency for publicity for various government ministries and departments. Listing out the eligibility for grant of advertisements, the ministry has specified that FM radios that do not conform to “socially accepted norms of public decency and behaviour” will not be considered for empanelment. While the ministry has clarified that selection would not depend on “political affiliation or editorial or programming policies” of the stations, sources said these stipulations are standing instructions in line with the code of conduct that binds radio broadcast.

The new policy is part of the government’s ongoing radio broadcast expansion through e-auction of the second batch of FM Radio channels under the third phase.

The stations will also be bound by contract rules to broadcast advertisements released by DAVP and cannot drop government spots, failing which their empanelment can be suspended for a year htc