We know how it goes in India – any bit of information on the Bachchans is big news (and will receive maximum coverage from all angles!) However, in a surprising move, the Broadcast Editors’ Association has made a list of ten points that will govern how television channels cover Aishwarya‘s delivery – and if you look through the guidelines, you’ll realize that this will significantly curb the amount of TV exposure the delivery gets.
The guidelines are such that electronic media can’t have any pre-coverage of the event, they aren’t allowed any OB vans outside the hospital or the Bachchan residence, they can’t do any astrology show on the baby, and they can only carry the story of the baby’s birth after an official announcement has been made.
However, the drama goes a little deeper than what’s in the guidelines. Amitabh Bachchan was asked by a journalist if he was the reason the Information and Broadcasting industry took such a decision. He took to his Twitter account to dispel these rumors:
So at first Big B. appeared ignorant at these new media guidelines, and by his third tweet he seems to have realized that such guidelines were actually put in place, even though he maintains he wasn’t the one who influenced this decision. When the general secretary of the Broadcast Editors’ Association was asked about these guidelines, he said that the main purpose was to make Indian electronic news more value-based for a “broader public cause” and hence the implementation.
We know Big B has been a bit miffed with the media lately what with all those rumors circulating about Ash’s pregnancy (which she herself completely debunked in a press statement), but he seems to have made peace with them:
And is even thankful for the guidelines that have been put in place:
We can’t really know whether these guidelines are self-regulation or censorship, but either way – she’s just a lady trying to have a baby so kudos to the BEA for respecting that. We wish Aishwarya a safe delivery, and hope the baby (babies? :D) is/are healthy and just as good looking as momma and poppa! 🙂 Many congratulations to the Bachchan clan!