NCN pulls plug on airing live PPP rally but will give technical support to private station

The move by NCN comes as the state owned entity came under heavy criticism for its plans to carry the PPP rally live while refusing to air 30-minute and one-hour radio and tv paid programmes for the APNU+AFC coalition.

NCN pulls plug on airing live PPP rally but will give technical support to private station

The state-owned National Communications Network has decided against airing a live broadcast of Saturday night’s final rally of the governing People’s Progressive Party.

The move by NCN comes as the state owned entity came under heavy criticism for its plans to carry the PPP rally live while refusing to air 30-minute and one-hour radio and tv paid programmes for the APNU+AFC coalition.

News Source understands that the decision was taken late Friday after the APNU+AFC called on GECOM and the Observer mission to pay attention to the “unfair” provision of airtime.

But although NCN will not carry the rally live, a senior management official has confirmed to News Source that the company’s live broadcast equipment and personnel will be used to transmit the same rally to at least two private television stations for them to broadcast live. Those two tv stations are owned and managed by supporters of the PPP.

Additionally NCN’s equipment will be used to stream the rally online.

The state owned entity has come under heavy criticism over the years for its “unfair” coverage of the opposition parties.

Just on Friday, the APNU+AFC raised concern over the non airing of some of its paid political advertisements.

NCN said the ads that have not been played are the ones which are engaging the attention of its legal team for clearance.  That legal team is headed by Attorney Jaya Manickchand who is the sister of Education Minister and  PPP Civic candidate, Priya Manickchand.

 

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