Ruling Telugu Desam Party leaders in Andhra Pradesh have multiple options to get publicity in the media, for the simple reason that majority of the media houses in the state are blowing the trumpet of TDP and its president N Chandrababu Naidu.
On the other hand, YSR Congress party leaders do not have many options.
If they want to give any political advertisements – whether it is welcoming party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to their area as part of padayatra, or wishing him a happy birthday or conducting a political public meeting in their areas, they invariably choose Sakshi media, owned by Jagan himself.
The YSRC leaders don’t want to give political advertisements in ABN Andhra Jyothy or ETV or TV9, which are largely viewed as pro-TDP.
Moreover, their tariff is also too high and they don’t offer concessions to Jagan’s advertisements. So, they prefer only Sakshi which can appeal to Jagan’s fans.
Apparently to cash in on this weakness of YSRC leaders, Sakshi media house has almost doubled its tariff for political advertisements recently.
Hitherto, Sakshi channel was charging Rs 1400 for a 10-second advertisement. Now the tariff has suddenly gone up to Rs 2,500.
Now, who will give political advertisements in Sakshi? Obviously, the TDP or Congress do not prefer giving their ads in Sakshi because it is owned by their rival leader. So, only YSRC leaders have to place their ads in this channel.
Since it belongs to their party president, they expect some kind of concession from the channel for their political advertisements.
But, Sakshi management has thought the other way. Since YSRC leaders have no choice but to give their ads only in Sakshi channel, it is better to collect more from them by doubling the tariff, so that it can generate big income during the elections.
After all, politics is different from commerce!
