Malayalam News Channel Media One Banned by Centre; “Security Clearance”

Malayalam television channel MediaOne TV has gone off air after the Ministry of Information and broadcasting has imposed a ban on broadcasting by citing security clearance. This is the second time centre banned Media One. According to the Sources, the ministry denied permission for the channel’s renewal of a license after the “Union home ministry’s refusal to give security clearance”.

MediaOne TV said it is exploring legal options and for now, the broadcast has been stopped. MediaOne TV had applied for broadcast permissions to be renewed from September 30, 2021, to September 29, 2031. In a statement, Mediaone TV editor Pramod Raman said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has imposed a broadcasting ban on the channel. Indian Union Muslim League MLA MK Muneer tweeted opposing the government’s move.

In 2020, MediaOne TV was taken off air after the I&B Ministry said it violated provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 during its coverage of the violence in Delhi linked to the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.