MediaOne TV
On a blue background, up top, five white boxes with the letters M, E, D, I, and A in a sans serif. Below are the letters o, n, and e in a rounded sans serif in lowercase. A line through the O creates the number 1 in part of the logo.
CountryIndia
HeadquartersKozhikode, Kerala, India
Programming
Language(s)Malayalam
Ownership
OwnerMadhyamam Broadcasting Limited
Key peopleO. Abdurahman, Group Editor (Madhyamam - MediaOne)
History
Launched10 February 2013 (2013-02-10)
Links
Webcastwww.mediaoneonline.com/live-tv
Websitewww.mediaoneonline.com

MediaOne TV is an Indian Malayalam-language television channel operated by Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited.[1][2][3] The channel was licensed in September 2011 and was officially launched on 10 February 2013.[4][5] The main studio is located at Velliparamba, Kozhikode, Kerala.

Broadcasting of the channel was halted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) in February 2022 after MediaOne's license to distribute the channel was revoked claiming national security issues.[6] Some criticized the ban, which was upheld by a division bench of the Kerala High Court,[7] as being based on undisclosed sealed information. Even though it did not broadcast to television providers,[8] MediaOne continued to distribute its programming online and via social media. On 15 March 2022, the Supreme Court of India issued an interim order staying the ban on MediaOne and allowing it to resume broadcast operations,[9] followed by a judgement in April 2023 that permanently set aside the I&B order.[10][11]

History

Refer to caption
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was the guest of honor at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for MediaOne's facilities.
A three-story modernist building
MediaOne TV headquarters and studio

Foundation

On 16 June 2012, then-Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presided over a foundation stone–laying ceremony for the MediaOne headquarters and studio complex at Velliparambu near Kozhikode, and former Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi unveiled the MediaOne logo at Kochi Le Meridian convention hall.[5] The channel was officially launched on 10 February 2013 at an event attended by the former defence minister A. K. Antony.[4]

Security issues and ban

Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited, owners of MediaOne TV, first experienced a dispute with regulators in 2015. At that time, Madhyamam proposed a second MediaOne channel, to be known as MediaOne Life. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied the security clearance that was necessary to start the new service. Even though the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) had approved the technical aspects of its application, this was dropped in 2019 due to the MHA's denial.[12]

In March 2020, I&B prohibited the transmission or re-transmission of MediaOne TV, along with Asianet News TV,[13] for 48 hours for what it called for "biased" reporting of North East Delhi riots, stating that the channel was "airing attacks on religions or communities, promoting communal attitudes" and "inciting violence against law and order maintenance and promoting anti-national attitudes".[14] In its ruling, I&B noted that the "channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters [...] questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction [... and] seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS".[15]

On 31 January 2022, MediaOne TV ceased broadcasts at noon after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused to renew the channel's licence to operate in the wake of the MHA's revocation of the security clearance for Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited. MediaOne TV is one of the few Indian news channels whose ownership lies with an Islamic organization.[16][3]

On 8 February 2022, the Kerala High Court upheld the order passed by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to revoke the broadcasting license granted to MediaOne TV. The Court dismissed the writ petition filed by Maadhyamam Broadcasting Ltd challenging the Union's decision.[17][18]

Justice N. Nagaresh held that, after perusing the files from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, there were intelligence inputs that justified the denial of security clearance to the channel:[19][20]

Going through the files, I find that the Ministry has called for intelligence inputs. Based on the intelligence inputs, the committee of officers has found that security clearance should not be given. The Ministry has decided to accept the finding of the Committee of Officers. There are inputs justifying the denial of security clearance. Therefore I am dismissing the writ petition.

An editorial in The Hindu criticized the ban for being based on sealed, classified information, without MediaOne being made aware of its contents,[21] as did another in The Indian Express.[22]

On 2 March 2022, the division bench of Kerala High Court upheld the earlier order. It noted that "there are certain serious adverse reports by the Intelligence Bureau against Madhyamam Broadcasting Ltd and its managing director", and though the files did not provide much information as to the dimensions of the issue, the bench indicated that "there are clear and significant indications impacting the public order and security of the state".[23][7] MediaOne appealed its decision to the Supreme Court of India,[23][7] alleging that the guidelines for uplinking and downlinking television channels did not require MHA permission at renewal but only upon application for new service.[9]

The Supreme Court stayed the ban and permitted MediaOne to resume operations under an interim order on 15 March 2022, at which time its management announced it would continue broadcasting as it had before the ban was imposed. The three-judge bench's ruling noted that the company was "surely entitled" to know the reasons for the decision; the central government was ordered to file a counter affidavit by 26 March.[9] On 3 November, the Supreme Court reserved judgment in the case after two days of hearings.[24] A bench judgement, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, was issued in April; the court found that the government had used national security in a "cavalier manner" to refuse MediaOne the licence and noted that its action to deny broadcasting rights to a news channel had "a chilling effect on free speech and particularly on press freedom". It also chided the High Court for the limited information it gave the defendants in their case, noting that it had left MediaOne "attempting strenuously to fight in the dark".[10][11]

Criticism and controversies

In February–March 2014, Gail Tredwell, a former disciple and closest personal attendant of Mata Amritanandamayi, released an autobiography titled Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion, and Pure Madness.[25] She alleged that a senior follower of Amritanandamayi's ashram, Balu, had sexual relationships with her and Amritanandamayi for many years and that Amritanandamayi was abusive toward her.[25] The mainstream media of Kerala was reluctant to report about the allegations made in the book. In accordance with an order from Ernakulam judicial first magistrate court, on 11 March 2014, Kerala Police registered a case against five media organizations—Indiavision, Reporter, MediaOne, and newspapers Thejas and Madhyamam—in response to a petition that accused these organizations of airing unverified statements.[26][27][28]

On 7 November 2022, Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan barred MediaOne TV and Kairali News from covering his press meeting in Kochi, accusing their representatives of being "political persons" who "masquerade as media".[29]

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "MADHYAMAM BROADCASTING LIMITED". www.tofler.in/. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
    2. ↑ "Jamaat-e-Islami Hind spreads its wings to film production". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
    3. 1 2 "Why the ban on the MediaOne TV is of concern, despite the Kerala HC's stay on it". theleaflet. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    4. 1 2 "MediaOne TV channel launched". Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Kerala. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
    5. 1 2 "Mediaone TV logo unveiled". madhyamam.com. 17 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    6. ↑ MADHYAMAM BROADCASTING LIMITED MEDIA ONE HEADQUARTERS v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS, 18 LiveLaw 1, p.1 (HIGH COURT OF KERALA, India 8th day of February 2022) ("W.P.(C) No.3265/2022 has been filed by a Company that owns Media One TV Channel. The petitioner- Company seeks to call for the records leading to Ext.P4 order whereby the permission granted to the petitioner- Company to uplink and downlink a News and Current Affairs TV Channel, namely Media One, is revoked with immediate effect. The petitioner seeks to direct respondents 1 and 2 to afford an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner before passing an order revoking the permission.").
    7. 1 2 3 MADHYAMAM BROADCASTING LIMITED, MEDIA ONE HEADQUARTERS v UNION OF INDIA, 55 55 55, p.15 (Kerala High Court - Hon. MANIKUMAR (C.J.) & SHAJI P.CHALY, J. 2022-03-02) ("Likewise, the application filed seeking permission for the renewal of the uplinking and downlinking of "Media one TV" was considered in the year 2021 and wherein also, we find that there are certain serious adverse reports by the Intelligence Bureau against M/s. Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited and its Managing Director. It is true that the nature, impact, gravity and depth of the issue is not discernible from the files. But, at the same time, there are clear and significant indications impacting the public order and security of the State. Since it is a confidential and sensitive file maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Union of India, we are not expressing anything further in the interest of national security, public order and other aspects concerning the administration of the nation.").
    8. ↑ Philip, Shaju (9 February 2022). "Kerala HC dismisses plea by Media One against order barring transmission, channel goes off air" (HTML). indianexpress. Thiruvananthapuram: indianexpres. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022. The channel subsequently went off air.
    9. 1 2 3 Rajagopal, Krishnadas (15 March 2022). "Supreme Court stays ban on Media One channel". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
    10. 1 2 G, Ananthakrishnan (6 April 2023). "SC quashes ban on Media One: 'Chilling effect' on free press". The Indian Express. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    11. 1 2 "Judgement Pronouncement: MediaOne Broadcast Ban". Supreme Court Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    12. ↑ , p.3 ("Based on the Ministry of Home Affairs' clearance earlier received on 07.02.2011, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting granted permission to M/s. Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited for a TV Channel, namely "Media One Life", on 26.08.2015, as per Annexure-R1(d). The MHA denied security clearance to the new proposals for additional TV Channels and appointment of Directors. Consequently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued Annexure-R1(e) show-cause notice to the petitioner- Company to clarify as to why the permission granted to the petitioner should not be revoked. The Company submitted reply which was examined by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. However, in view of the denial of the Security Clearance, the permission granted for uplinking and downlinking of TV Channel, namely "Media One Life", was cancelled on 11.09.2019."), Text.
    13. ↑ "Centre slaps 48-hour ban on two Malayalam news channels". The Hindu. 7 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
    14. ↑ "Centre suspends Malayalam news channel MediaOne; Kerala HC stays the order". www.timesnownews.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    15. ↑ "Malayalam TV channels Asianet News, Media One blocked for 48 hours over coverage of Delhi riots". The New Indian Express. 6 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
    16. ↑ Gopakumar, K. c. (31 January 2022). "HC defers Centre's ban order on MediaOne TV channel". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
    17. ↑ "Kerala HC dismisses plea by Media One against order barring transmission, channel goes off air". 9 February 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
    18. ↑ "Kerala HC upholds I&B Ministry order revoking Media One TV channel license". Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
    19. ↑ Varghese, Hannah M. (8 February 2022). "'Inputs Justify Denial Of Security Clearance' : Kerala High Court Upholds Ban On MediaOne Channel". www.livelaw.in. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
    20. ↑ MADHYAMAM BROADCASTING LIMITED MEDIA ONE HEADQUARTERS v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS, 18 37 37, p.17 (THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA February 2022) ("From the files produced before this Court, it is discernible that the Committee of Officers took note of the inputs given by the intelligence agencies as regards the petitioner-Company, and found that the inputs are of a serious nature and falls under the security rating parameters. In the circumstances, the Committee of Officers advised not to renew the licence. This Court finds that the recommendations of the Committee of Officers as finally accepted by the MHA, are justified by supporting materials.").
    21. ↑ "Wrong signal: On MediaOne". The Hindu. 11 February 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
    22. ↑ "By upholding ban on Media One, on basis of material in sealed envelope, Kerala HC has gone against Supreme Court verdicts". The Indian Express. 10 February 2022. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
    23. 1 2 "MediaOne moves SC as Kerala HC upholds ban on channel". The Week. 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
    24. ↑ Narendran, Thyagarajan (4 November 2022). "MediaOne Ban: SC To Decide If the Government Can Refuse Revealing Reasons For Ban On National Security Grounds". The Supreme Court Observer. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022. On November 3rd, 2022, Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli reserved Judgment in the Union Government's broadcast ban of Kerala based TV channel MediaOne.
    25. 1 2 Tredwell, Gail (2013). Holy Hell: A Memoir of Faith, Devotion and Pure Madness. ISBN 978-0-9896794-0-4.
    26. ↑ "Book on Amma: Petition against media organizations, others". The Hindu. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
    27. ↑ "Call to bring out truth about charges against Math". The Hindu. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
    28. ↑ "Amritanandamayi mutt row: Gail Tredwell, five news organisations booked". India Today. 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
    29. ↑ Sabarwal, Harshit (7 November 2022). "Kerala governor bars 2 channels from covering press meet; Cong, CPI (M) hit out". The Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022. Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday barred two Malayalam news channels - Kairali News and Media One - from covering his press meeting in Kochi.
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