Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has been systematically clamping down on media channels that cover anti-government protests. From January 2017 to June 2018, at least 11 news channels – including a national network – were taken off the air from the state-owned Arasu cable network on occasions when they broadcast anti-government protests. The network is said to control about 60% of the cable distribution in the state.Arasu Cable TV Corporation was intended to democratise the distribution of TV channels in the state. But journalists allege that the corporation has been misusing its control over TV channel distribution to censor content during the past six months.Channels were blacked out when they broadcast live visuals of police violence on anti-Sterlite protesters in Thoothukudi on May 22. Many have been asked to ‘go slow’ on protests against the government’s Chennai-Salem green corridor project.Towards the end of June, three journalists – two from Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi and one from Theekathir – were arrested for covering protests against the corridor and were released due to public outrage. A criminal case was filed against a prominent Tamil channel Puthiya Thalaimurai in June for comments made by film director Ameer during a debate on communal tensions following the death of Hindu Munnani activist Sasikumar at Coimbatore in 2016. This was in response to remarks that Thoothukudi protests were anti-social.Policemen stand guard ahead of a protest, after at least 13 people were killed in police firing on protesters in Thoothukudi Credit: Reuters/P. RavikumarThe police filed cases both against Ameer and Puthiya Thalaimurai. A source within the channel said, “We were booked under sections 153(A), 505 of IPC and 3(1) of Tamil Nadu property prevention of damage and loss Act for organising the programme.”N. Ram, chairman of The Hindu group of publications told BBC Tamil in an interview, “Such tactics are not new in Tamil Nadu. [Former chief minister] Jayalalithaa had filed as many as 200 criminal defamation cases against journalists and media outlets. The government now uses the Arasu cable distribution to black out networks or relocate them to make them less visible, apart from filing cases.”Alliance formed to protect media freedomA section of journalists led by Ram have put formed an Alliance for Media Freedom to take up these issues with the government.“We intend to meet the chief minister and speak to him about the threats faced by media. We will take it up with the National Broadcasting Association, editors guild and TRAI. The alliance also hopes to document attacks on media and will protect media freedom,” Peer Mohammed, the alliance’s convener says.The blackouts were aimed at damaging the business revenue of the media houses, he said. Arasu Cable TV Corporation provides cable to over 85 lakh homes out of the 1.5 crore TV homes in the state. This is about 70% of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) market, which lays an emphasis on rural areas. Weekly BARC numbers determine the business size of TV channels.In Chennai, the distribution is fragmented between several players. Sun Network-controlled Sumangali Cable Vision, which dominated the distribution for two decades, now controls just 10% of the Chennai market. Arasu Cable and Tamilaga Cable TV Communication Limited provide cable to 22 lakh and 12 lakh TV homes respectively.After its first meeting on July 1, the alliance had issued a statement accusing the Tamil Nadu government of a systematic attempt to muzzle the media. The meeting also demanded a rollback of these measures.The government’s clamp down on the media comes soon after its indiscriminate and arbitrary arrests in both Thoothukudi and Salem. While the state has always witnessed democratic protests, lawyer and activist M. Vetriselvan says that the government does not seem to be capable of tolerating any act of dissent. “To try and control the voice of protesters by way of intimidation will only turn out to be counter-productive.”Filmmaker targetedThe government’s next target appears to be documentary filmmaker Divya Bharathi, whose work on the Ochki cyclone in Tamil Nadu titled Orutharum Varala (No one came), is expected to expose the government’s inefficient response. Since the release of the trailer last week, Bharathi has alleged she has been harassed and intimidated by the police. The Nilgiris police has filed an FIR against the filmmaker. Reports suggest that she has been charged under IPC sections 153 A (1)B, Section 505 (1)b and Section 2 of the prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.“In Orutharum Varala, the interests of the corporate companies in displacing the fishing community is revealed. The government is not happy about it,” she says. “My legal struggle is not just about safeguarding myself. The truth has to be out there.” Two years ago, Bharathi’s film on manual scavenging – Kakoos – was banned from being screened across the state.“Bharathi has already exposed the government’s hollow lies on manual scavenging. She will do the same again with Orutharum Varala,” said Aadhavan Dheetchanya, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association. The government is attempting to keep its people under a psychological siege, he said, adding “It is evident that the State does not want any kind of opposition to any of its projects. They do not want the dissent to spread. I have my differences with Anbumani Ramadoss but as an elected representative, he has the right to visit his constituency and meet the people. The state has denied him the right.”Meanwhile, a case was allegedly filed against Kavikko Mandram – a place for hall meetings in Chennai – for operating without a license. Apparently, the police had advised the owners not to rent out the hall to ‘anti-government’ meetings.Instances of channels blacked out by Arasu Cable corporation:January 2017: The distribution of News 7 and Sun News was blocked briefly on January 23, 2017 when these channels telecast the police violence on Jallikattu protesters at Marina beach in Chennai.June 12, 2017: When Times Now carried “MLAs for Sale” expose, the channel was blocked temporarily.September 2017: Jaya Network visibility was distorted. The management claimed they were illegally blocked.December 8, 2017: When Times Now carried “Sekar Reddy Diary” expose, it was blocked temporarily.December 21, 2017: Cauvery News was taken off air on December 21, 2017 after the channel carried an exit poll claiming victory for T.T.V. Dhinakaran in the RK Nagar bypoll. The management went to the Madras High Court in April 2018.March 2018: Thanthi TV was taken off air for 48 hours. This incident followed a diktat from the chief minister’s office to not air corruption allegations against the government.May 22, 2018: On May 22, even as News 18 Tamil Nadu was airing a debate on the Thoothukudi massacre, it was taken off air. It was restored 12-13 hours later after the management lobbied with the government.June 2018: Puthiya Thalaimurai was pushed from 124th slot to 499th slot on Arasu Cable network after the channel organised a debate on the growing anti-government protests.June 2018: Madhimugam TV – affiliated to the MDMK – was pushed to 450th slot by the Arasu Cable for airing anti-government content.June 2018: Sathiyam, an independent news channel, was pushed back for criticising the government.June 2018: Sun Network was blocked on alleged oral instructions of state ministers for covering anti-TASMAC or other anti-government protests.