Show-cause notice to Nimbus for 'racial ad'

The notice has been issued on Wednesday and they have to reply by Monday.

Barely out of the telecast trouble, the private broadcaster Nimbus has again attracted the ire of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which has issued a show cause notice for allegedly showing racist advertisements during India-West Indies one-dayers last month.

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"The notice has been issued on Wednesday and they have to reply by Monday," said an official of the Ministry, which has taken cognizance of the ads on Nimbus Communications' Neo Sports channel much earlier.

"Its tough being a West Indian in India", said one of the ads, which attracted criticism that it showed racial overtones.

The official said the Nimbus has to explain it, failing which the punishment can be anything between an apology and withdrawal of uplinking-downlinking licence.

Earlier, Nimbus came under fire from the Ministry for not giving it the live feed of cricket one-dayers to its Doordarshan and All India Radio.

A settlement has been reached in the court on Thursday, as Nimbus was directed to share live telecast - without seven minutes delay - with Prasar Bharati- run DD and AIR.