Sakshi's Big Coverage To Jayashankar: What's Up?

The massive coverage given by Sakshi Telugu daily and channel to the death of Telangana ideologue Prof K Jayashankar on Tuesday and his funeral the following day raised many eyebrows in the media circles.

In fact, one can say the coverage in Sakshi on Jayashankar was much more than in the other dailies and channels, barring the pro-Telangana media.

So much so that even the news pertaining to the Odarpu Yatra of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, promoter of Sakshi, itself was relegated to the second position.

Even on Thursday, the lead story was that of Jayashankar’s funeral. Perhaps, it was the second biggest coverage of a funeral after former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s death.

No doubt Jayashankar was a great academic personality but all said and done, he was an out and out Telangana protagonist and strong opponent of Seemandhra.

Naturally, Sakshi’s coverage to him was surprising. It has led to the speculations in the media that perhaps, Jagan might take a pro-Telangana stand in the forthcoming plenary of the party to be held at Idupulapaya on July 8. And the massive coverage in Sakshi for Jayashankar is only an indication.

Sakshi with Dhoni during the felicitation: Excl Pic

Sakshi stood next to cricketer-husband MS Dhoni as he was felicitated at a function in Ranchi.

BCCI Annual Awards - Dhoni with his wife Sakshi : Exclusive Pics

BCCI Annual Awards - Dhoni with his wife Sakshi : Exclusive Pics
Dhoni with his wife Sakshi 
Sachin with his wie Anjali

Anjali Tendulkar and MS Dhoni's wife Sakshi

Anjali Tendulkar and MS Dhoni's wife Sakshi

Jagan's wife calling shots in Sakshi

With Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy getting busy with building up his fledgling YSR Congress party and is in neck-deep plans to oust the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in the state, he is not able to focus on his favourite media house Sakshi daily and channel.

For the last few months, his wife Bharati Reddy has been managing the affairs in the media house in the capacity of managing director, while Jagan continues to be its chairman.

Of late, Bharati has been directly involving even in the editorial matters, dictating what should go into the pages and on screen and whom to attack. This has naturally been a sort of embarrassing for professional journalists who prefer to work in an independent environment.

And according to inside sources, Bharati has been ruthless in her functioning. The way she has shown the door for ex-Chief Executive Officer Priyadarshini Ram Reddy has become a talking point in the journalistic circles in Sakshi.

Though Ram Reddy has made up his mind to quit Sakshi a few days ago, he was shocked to find his chambers locked one fine day and when he enquired about the keys, the security people reportedly told him that “Madam” has taken over the keys. Ram Reddy got the hint and he went out without making any fuss. It was really an unceremonious exit for a person who contributed his sweat and blood to develop the channel, sources say.

NDTV Takes Over Sakshi Editorial

NDTV, the most popular national television channel, has taken over the editorial board of Sakshi television channel, promoted by YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

According to reliable sources, the two-year contract between the managements of the NDTV and Sakshi has come into effect from June 1.

As per the contract which is worth Rs 20 crore, the NDTV will manage the editorial department of Sakshi for a period of two years. It will formulate and execute the editorial content of Sakshi and all the editorial staff of Sakshi will now have to report to the editorial head to be appointed by NDTV.

The existing staff of the Sakshi channel will continue, unless the NDTV team feels any of the staff members does not match its editorial standards. Besides, it can appoint any fresh faces as per its requirement. However, Sakshi will continue to hold the management in rest of the departments.

The arrangement, which came as a surprise to many, is believed to be part of Jaganmohan Reddy’s strategy to bring in professionalism in the editorial content.

However, one wonders whether or not Sakshi channel will continue the Jagan bhajan or introduce any new programmes to attract the viewers. In any case, it is evident that Jagan is hell bent on making Sakshi a No. 1 channel in the state.

What is surprising is the way NDTV management accepted Jagan’s offer.

First of all, Sakshi will be the first vernacular venture for NDTV and it has no reach in the rural parts of Andhra Pradesh, leave alone South India.

Secondly, the bigwigs in NDTV have close connections with the powers-that-be in the UPA and top head like Barkha Dutt have direct access to Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. One wonders how they accepted to take over the channel of Jagan who is dead against Sonia and Singh. Well, money is all that matters!