The politics of Telugu television

Abstract

Media and politics have had an intrinsic relation in the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh and the present Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is reflected in the number of news channels in Telugu, which at the latest count was 18, the highest in regional language television industry in the country. Telugu television industry is perhaps one of the largest among the regional channels of India with over 60 channels, including GECs, movies, music, comedy, film news, kids, devotional, news, and health. Almost every major political party in the Telugu-speaking states own publications or television channels or has some interest in them which exposes the close links between media and politics. For instance, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in Telangana has its channel, ‘T News,’ while the party in power in Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), has its own television channel, ‘Sakshi.’ Each passing election witnessed a spurt of television channels in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana that explains how intricately the prospects of the media industry are linked to the politics of the state. For instance, between the election years 2004 and the subsequent elections up to 2014, more than a dozen channels were launched. Media is perceived as an active political collaborator due to the allegiances of owners and editors to political parties. For politicians who own media and seek to influence voters, television has become one of the prime means to reach out to the electorate. This chapter presents an overview of Telugu television, tracing the trajectory of its growth and the sociopolitical influences that shaped this regional industry.