HC to decide on DD-ETV rath row

This is a battle for the exclusive telecast rights for Lord Jagannath — one that contending parties Doordarshan and Enadu Oriya are not...

This is a battle for the exclusive telecast rights for Lord Jagannath — one that contending parties Doordarshan and Enadu Oriya are not in favour of giving up easily. For at stake is a viewership of two million.

The yatra begins on July 12 and DD Bhubaneshwar wants to be the one to telecast the it live, as has been the practice in the past. Enadu has contested the exclusive monopoly of DD and even filed a case in Orissa High Court two days ago.

This, the channel did after its request for live telecast of the event was first approved on May 8 and cancelled by the Orissa Government on June 22. ‘‘We were allowed to take the feed from DD, but as this is a public gathering we feel we should also have the rights to telecast the event,’’ said an Enadu official.

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DD perceives the festival as State-organised and the government has its responsibility towards the Public Service Broadcaster. DD has been showing the ritual live every year and would like to do the same this year too.

For Enadu Oriya, this will be its first major event after its launch on January 27. ‘‘We beam across 40 countries and we would like our viewers to see the event,’’ said an Enadu official. On Monday, the court will perhaps take a view on it.

Modi will address a rally in the district and open the Purnea airport that will provide air connectivity to several metro cities, fulfilling a longstanding demand in the Seemanchal region.

PM Modi to open Purnea airport, launch Makhana Board in Monday’s visit to poll-bound Bihar

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PM Modi will visit Purnea, Bihar, on Monday to inaugurate projects worth Rs 36,000 crore, including an airport and launch the National Makhana Board. The visit is aimed at boosting development and addressing the neglected Seemanchal region. PM will also announce projects worth Rs 35,461 crore and distribute benefits to beneficiaries under different schemes.

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