I found this article on www.rajahasan.com and I feel that we are fooled every week by ZEE.So I felt that all should read this.
Something that I found really interesting is the terms and conditions drafted by Zee TV for its programme Saregamapa. Let's have a closer look at the points it states:
The discretion on the validity of votes rests with the producer. The producer alone shall have the right to consider or disqualify any/all votes sent by voter via any medium of voting in favour of any contestant.
So, it means the producer has the right to reject any vote. In all probability, it means Zee TV will reject votes that are cast through automated bots, hacks, power dialing and the like. Fair enough. But what interests me more is the next part:
Producer reserves its right to alter or change the criteria for selecting the contestant for next round of the programme at its own sole discretion, without assigning any reason for the same.
As per the current format the elimination of contestant will be decided on the basis of total number of votes received by the contestant from the viewers, however the format of the programme is subject to change at the discretion of the producer.
Wow! Why on earth would someone introduce a clause like that? What it simply means is that the Producer is God. And he can change the rules of eliminating candidates anyway he wants - so if the frustrated wife of the producer doesn't like a candidate, the producer can throw out the candidate. So what if millions of users have paid their hard earned money for SMSes. So, the producer can pocket the money, and keep his wife happy too.
I fail to understand how can a producer have a right to change rules of a game at his discretion midway- especially when he is pocketing money from millions of users. It is as if I bought a movie ticket for Chak De India, and the theatre owner shows me the lousy Aap Kaa Surroor - without refunding my money. Have you ever heared of an airline flying you to Surat, when you have bought a ticket for Mumbai - just because its the pilot's discretion?
I have checked out rules of other shows. Not even American Idol states that can change the selection criteria of contestants for the next round!
Further, the terms state:
No dispute pertaining to the votes will be entertained. It is agreed by the voter that producer being the owner of the programme, is the sole decision taking authority and any decision taken by producer shall be full and final and shall be binding on the voters and no dispute pertaining to the any aspect related to the programme will be entertained.
I would really like to get to know who this arsehole is who drafted these terms. Why do you have this clause in the first place? Simply because Zee can then keep manipulating results for TRPs and no one can question them legally. I am no legal expert, but I think some publicity hungry lawyer should should file a petition against Zee, questioning these very clauses. And if a suit is filed in the USA, that should send the Zee guys hopping!
At the moment, what Zee TV is doing is nothing different from match-fixing in cricket. And fixing matches is a crime - it amounts to cheating under Indian laws.
I can assure you, if there is a criminal investigation into the Saregamapa voting, Zee wouldn't be even able to submit manipulated reports to the court or investigation agency. Every IP address of the voter can technically be tracked down to each voter. And every SMS detail can be matched with phone company records. It is simply not possible for Zee to submit fictious reports of 34 lakh votes that they claim for each episode. Just do a random check with the voters and Zee TV should be thoroughly exposed.
So Zee guys, will you have a similar clause in your Indian Cricket League - where the organisers have every right to fix matches as per their discretion?
