If the reports from New Delhi are to be believed, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has refused to renew the licences of popular Telugu entertainment channel Maa TV.
In all four channels of the Maa TV Network – Maa TV, Maa Gold, Maa Movies and Maa Music – have been cancelled.
According to the reports, the reason for the ministry refusing to renew the licences of these channels was the charges of financial irregularities against their management (read: Maa chairman Nimmagadda Prasad). The decision was taken following the recommendation of the Union Home Ministry, under which the CBI operates.
These channels are now being taken over by Star Group. Once the licences are transferred in the name of Star Group, they can be restored, sources said.
In all, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has cancelled the "permission" of 73 TV channels, 24 FM channels and nine newspapers/periodicals for violating the provisions of uplinking guidelines, the permission of 73 TV channels has been cancelled till date. At present, 892 private satellite TV channels are registered in the country.
