TVM stops live telecast of Parliament sessions

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Television Maldives have stopped live telecast of Parliamentary sessions. The issue was raised in yesterday’s session and was brought to the attention of the speaker. Gasim Ibrahim, MP for Maamingili said that TVM’s move has surprised and created suspicion among the regular viewers of the sessions.

The session was suspended by Speaker Abdulla Shahid when the issue was brought to his attention. After consulting with the political parties, speaker decided that live telecast would now be organized not by the TVM in its capacity as the public broadcaster, but by the Parliament Secretariat itself. Shahid expressed his displeasure that TVM has not telecasted today’s session even after having their cameras inside the chamber.

Under the new agreement live feed would now be provided to TV stations and until Parliament could train its own technical crew, TVM would lend their technicians for the task.

Speaker said that the issue is now sent to a committee which also consist leaders of political parties and parliament will move forward as per the committee’s recommendation.

A letter by TVM’s parent company, Maldives National Broadcasting Cooperation said that it is unrealistic for the TVM for live telecasting the parliamentary sessions as government has not provided any financial assistance for the company this year. The letter by the MNBC was received by Parliament on 28 February at 1545 hrs and Parliament said that it did not get the time to discuss the issue with MNBC. TVM said that 27% of their live events were parliamentary sessions and said that MRF 5 million is being spent annually on the live telecast of parliamentary sessions.

Ibrahim Khaleel, Managing-Director of MNBC has said that it is not viable to live telecast the sessions as parliament had not provided any budget to the company despite 1 year long negotiation with the parliament and assured that MNBC would not be influenced either by the Parliament or the Executive.

Former Information Minister and MP Mohamed Nasheed said that TVM should live telecast the sessions as TVM is still under the government. MP for S. Feydhoo Alhaan Fahumy also said that the action by the TVM is not right, but said that government did not interfere with MNBC’s editorial policies and the accusation that this was planned by the government is false.

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