TV9 Pays the Price!

Posted by Shri Posted on Mar 24 2011 48 comments

The News Broadcasting Standards Authority, New Delhi has censured TV9 to pay a fine of Rs.1,00,000 and broadcast an apology in prime time both in English and in Telugu. NBSA has determined that TV9 has violated the following codes of ethics and broadcasting standards by publishing the story “Gay culture rampant in Hyderabad”

Clause 5: Sex and Nudity
Clause 6: Privacy
Clause 9: Sting operations

As per the order issued, NBSA took suo motu cognizance of the matter and issued a show cause notice dated 24/02/2011 calling upon the Broadcaster (TV9) to respond within 14 days. Upon receiving TV9′s response a hearing was held on 15/03/2011.

TV9 defended its story saying it had no intention of criticizing the gay culture but had sought to bring-out thorough investigative journalism that (innocent) people were being enticed to illegal and unlawful activities. TV9 also claimed the program was intended to warn society at large, and there was no privacy violation since the information used in the story (Photos, phone numbers etc..) was available to general public on a social-networking website.

TV9 also admitted the following :

“….TV9 believes it could have kept the image and the principles of the persons interviewed in a masked manner and by not revealing their true identities, TV9 feels it could have exercised better discretion”

Justice [Retd] JS Verma from NBSA dismissed all these claims by TV9 and called the story, a sensationalized depiction of Gay culture in Hyderabad and the story needlessly violated the privacy of individuals, with possible alternate sexual orientation. He also pointed out that alternate sexual orientation is no longer considered as a taboo or a criminal act.

NBSA also declared TV9′s claim that ‘information, images, phone numbers used in the story, is available to general public via the social-networking website’, as INVALID and pointed out that the information is available on the website, under a MEMBERS ONLY area and not on the public area.

TV9 has been directed to run an apology for three consecutive days beginning the Monday next, in prime time with the following text :

“TV9 apologizes for the story “Gay Culture Rampant In Hyderabad” telecast on this channel on 22 February, 2011 from 15:11 hrs. to 15:17 hrs. particularly since the story invaded the privacy of certain persons and was in violation of the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards of the News Broadcasters Association. Any hurt or harm caused to any person thereby is sincerely regretted.”

In English : 15:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs
In Telugu : 20:00 hrs to 21:00 hrs

Click here to view the copy of the Order.

Update : Mar 30, 2011 – You can view the apology video, courtesy Allout.org here :

TV9 Apology Video

Thanks : Velu from Orinam.net for the input.

About the author

Shri

South Indian, Sambar lover,Subramanya Bharathi fan, Rebel, Bleeding heart liberal, Writer, Dreamer, Die-hard romantic and Queer. Twitter: @shrisadasivan

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48 thoughts on “TV9 Pays the Price!”

Broom on March 24, 2011 at 2:11 am said:

Pretty fucking awesome.

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Shri on March 24, 2011 at 2:20 am said:

I am jumping!! Someone pleaseeeeeeeeee record the apology and share!
I still can’t believe this is happening in India! Cheers queers!

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Anita Balan on March 24, 2011 at 2:29 am said:

Oh My God… I could kiss everybody on that NBA board rightnow…. This is FUCKING FANTASTIC

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Yogesh on March 24, 2011 at 2:37 am said:

I am overjoyed! And its fast.

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Bj on March 24, 2011 at 7:36 am said:

Justice, and what speed! I do hope though that they are able to enforce it ..The NBA folks should be proud!!

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Queer Coolie on March 24, 2011 at 8:05 am said:

w00t ! Bloody Brilliant

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vj on March 24, 2011 at 9:01 am said:

wow!… thanks for getting justice…!!!!

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Ashvyn on March 24, 2011 at 9:08 am said:

I would really like to ask, how much of this money wud land up in the pockets of the guys who were unwillingly exposed. Especially the guy D from Hyderabad?

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manish on March 24, 2011 at 9:44 am said:

wow ..i love you NBSA…. so i can surely say now..dat u ppl ;..listen us…..
thankyou…..mwah

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Jim Ward, California on March 24, 2011 at 10:35 am said:

Well done. Good that the NBA acted according to law though important to remember this only occurs when public pressure is brought to bear in a just cause.

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rohit bansel on March 24, 2011 at 12:01 pm said:

very nice…

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Rishi on March 24, 2011 at 1:07 pm said:

Excellent

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Sambhav K Sharma on March 24, 2011 at 2:26 pm said:

I say dis is d victory 4 each & evry 1 of u. Who fought against TV9 wid doz Online campaign, d protest dat happend in front of deir offices & spreading d word about dis campaign. Lets take a pledge dat whenever such injustice prevail, we must remember how our forefather fought & must act in d same way becoz We live in a democracy! and it is for the PEOPLE, by the People & to the people! Let’s not forget that!

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Sandeep Arora on March 24, 2011 at 3:15 pm said:

Amazing…i hope things work out like this for us in the future as well…

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Gay and not a TV9 watcher. on March 24, 2011 at 4:39 pm said:

@TV9: LMAOROFL

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GayDelhi on March 24, 2011 at 5:22 pm said:

Congratulations guys……………..i m so happy,

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jahaan on March 24, 2011 at 6:07 pm said:

thanks for yr help..even my photo was shown on TV9 clip…i thank every one for they support…spl people from delhi and mumbai

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Naren on March 25, 2011 at 1:35 am said:

Nothing
And money is not what they need…or would ever want!

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- Shri on March 25, 2011 at 3:16 am said:
  
  @Naren : The title of this story “TV9 pays the price” is figurative and not literal. Paying the price here means “suffering the consequences”. The fine imposed by NBSA is not to compensate the victims but to punish TV9′s ethics violation.
  NBSA has strongly condemned TV9, and also has forced it to offer an apology.
  This will serve as a strong precedence and prevent such acts by other channels in the future.
  
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Pranadhika Sinha on March 25, 2011 at 1:55 am said:

YES !
Justice !

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Fashionfreek on March 25, 2011 at 4:41 am said:

I am really happy for my dear one’s who were shown on TV9 .I am thankful to all the people who supported in getting this up until here.This is a great news for all of us.Once again, my big thanks to the people who have bein in this fight and fighting for it for a long time now.

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Fashionfreek on March 25, 2011 at 4:46 am said:

I would say that TV9 should make an apology video and pay each individual a compensation of 1 lakh rupees who were exploited on the television.I think we are asking for very less otherwise for this kind of filthy act by tv9, One can definetly sue this channel Completly.I want to see more supporting comments from one and all to make this a success.

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Ana on March 25, 2011 at 11:32 am said:

Good..:)

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phani on March 28, 2011 at 10:54 am said:

Thanks a lot for response………

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Arjun on March 29, 2011 at 9:40 am said:

It should have been a big time punishment to that insane channel.. 1 lac and scrolling apology for 2 Hrs for 3 days may not be sufficient for them to learn a lesson…. but anyway, it proves how guilty they are and their acceptance on how fcuking brutal they were with their act.

Am contended now to see that harebrained assholes apologizing.. LMAO..

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Jay on March 29, 2011 at 9:49 am said:

Wow Wow wow!!
Brilliant step in the right direction! a victory for all people living in India.
I am a queer sri lankan male and while the situation in Sri Lanka is very different, hearing things like this gives us hope!!!

Be PROUD

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GymGanesh on March 29, 2011 at 10:58 am said:

Its a great victory…

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Harsha on March 29, 2011 at 2:33 pm said:

Great News..

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Arjun on March 29, 2011 at 3:31 pm said:

Halo All, I’ve been desperate to watch TV9 channel to see the apology scroll that they have to implement for 3 days starting yesterday, to capture that video. yesterday I’ve missed it somehow but today I was literally watching this channel but ended up in vain. There was no such apology scroll displayed on the channel, since 3 PM (as instructed)…. I’m so disappointed with that and I am sure everyone of us does. I don’t know what can we do in this regard….

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VIKAS on March 29, 2011 at 8:06 pm said:

GReAT…… Plzzz plzz … share the Apology video …. ANd post It EVerywhere …. Let ppl Know THe Power…… VIctoryyyyY

COnseQuenCEs Of BUllshittt…… =))

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deep on March 29, 2011 at 8:59 pm said:

NOT ENOUGH though.
TV9 needs to COMPENSATE the 4 VICTIMS for causing damage to their reputation in all spheres of their lives.
LETS KEEP UP THE PRESSURE.

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abhi on March 29, 2011 at 9:22 pm said:

thats g8,… n its very fast…
plz share the apology video..

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Roshan on March 29, 2011 at 9:45 pm said:

Wow…I cant imagine justice in India happened so fast……..also perfect judgement and right punishment……… India is gaining maturity like western countries

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Pingback: TV9 Apology Video | Gaysi
Shri on March 30, 2011 at 9:05 am said:

Folks, here is the apology video :

http://gaysifamily.com/2011/03/30/tv9-apology-video/

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LoveParadise on March 30, 2011 at 9:05 am said:

Yipppeeee…. Serves you right, TV9!!!! I am sooooooo happy!!! I love NBA

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rohan on March 30, 2011 at 12:47 pm said:

this stupid small channel so called tv9 should be fullly bannned

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Latif on March 31, 2011 at 9:13 pm said:

Hello Tv 9 when will you broadcast your family secrets. Since You are very eager to publish SECRETS.

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Pills on March 31, 2011 at 11:13 pm said:

thats great….i think TV9 now shut down their channel..

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Shah225 on April 1, 2011 at 4:38 am said:

This is Awesome Glawsome news,, but the apology seems to be halfhearted, the girl reading the apology sounds as she is doing it out of frustration

but any home would like to thank the NBSA for this act and would really really appreciate the public who came forward for this cruel act by TV9

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M. R. Anand Reddy on April 1, 2011 at 5:35 am said:

i thank NBSA for that great job that they did,Good job guys and gays.

there should be limitation for every thing,TV9 ppl crossed their limit

kick ass TV9,TV9 should be banned across all the states of India and abroad so that no other broadcasting channel dare to deal with these type of cases.

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Arjun on April 1, 2011 at 9:44 am said:

They should have aired the apology message in the local regional language (Telugu) as well. Many of the viewers of this channel are Telugu speaking… there may be chances that many doesn’t understand English

This punishment is not enough for those shameless creatures… I agree with Shah225, the lady was like doing it forcibly with no feelings

Anyways, we won and will keep winning over all those who discriminates LGBTs..

Queer Azaadi Zindabad

Love you all!!

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Naba on April 2, 2011 at 11:49 am said:

Shows if there is a will there is a way..well done..
Journalism should also be accountable..the journalists are becoming hooligans

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jitu on April 2, 2011 at 9:02 pm said:

thats great……
it is very imporatant for everyone
wowowowowwwwww………………….great

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sri on April 8, 2011 at 12:16 am said:

kudos to all the awesome ppl who worked for it…u guys rock!

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Rudraksh4u on May 19, 2011 at 8:09 pm said:

I strongly defend the rights of privacy, no one has right to invade into it. Feel good when i came to know that their was an apology from TV9, proving for what i said..

–Rudra

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Preeti on March 29, 2013 at 10:22 am said:

TV9, shame on you!

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