Prasar Bharati follows through on its threat, ends PTI and UNI subscriptions
The decision is the culmination of a months-long tussle.
Prasar Bharati has decided to stop subscribing to the news agencies Press Trust of India and United News of India. The decision was taken by the state broadcaster’s board at a meeting on Thursday.
The decision comes a few months after Prasar Bharati threatened to end its subscription to PTI after the agency ran an interview of the Chinese ambassador to India which the government wasn’t pleased with.
An unnamed official told the Indian Express that Prasar Bharati had been in contact with both agencies to discuss “fresh viable pricing” but nothing came of it. So, it was decided to call for fresh proposals “for a digital subscription to English text and related multimedia services from all domestic news agencies”. Both PTI and UNI can both participate, the official told the daily.
Newslaundry has previously reported on Prasar Bharati’s tussle with the PTI and how it’s part of the Narendra Modi regime’s plan to fully capture the media. Below are some of our stories about it.
Upset with PTI’s Ladakh conflict coverage, Prasar Bharati says it will review ties with the news agency
‘Unfair and shocking’: Former PTI chief flays Prasar Bharati for calling its coverage ‘anti-national’
The Modi regime couldn’t capture PTI, so it launched PBNS. How is the enterprise going? ***
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