NaMO TV goes offline after poll hat-trick

GANDHINAGAR: After chief minister NarendraModi scored a poll hat trick, the much discussed and debated TV channel - NaMo TV - has gone offline from the internet as well as cable networks. It was earlier viewable on www.namotv.com and namotv.in, along with the cable networks.

Sources said the state BJP unit plans to launch web and cable TV channels on a national platform after a few months, in view of the forthcoming general elections in 2014. A senior party leader, who played a key role in NaMo TV project said, "As the election is over, we have stopped airing new content but the Universal Resource Locator (URL) for two web-portals and the cable TV license has not been submitted."

He disclosed, "We are working on a grand re-launch plan on a wider platform with better technology and refined content." He avoided specifying whether the proposed re-launch would be on a national level and what language it would be in.

After its launch and successful dishing out of election-oriented propaganda during the polls, a core team is learnt to be working hard to launch a national Hindi and possibly an English satellite TV channel as well, so that Modi can reach a larger audience beyond Gujarat, to strengthen his acceptance as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for 2014. Sources said the BJP is in the process of acquiring a fresh license for a satellite TV channel, and if it is unable to do so, it will take over a defunct channel. The proposed satellite TV channel is likely to be named 'NaMo Bharat' on the lines of 'NaMo Gujarat'. NaMo is also the short name for Narendra Modi which is popular in Gujarat.

A former Gujarat cadre IAS officer turned businessman, who is very close to Modi, also has a satellite TV channel licence. It is believed he may provide a readymade platform for Modi's new national TV channel plan.

ABDUL WAHEED
PGDM 2nd SEM.