A Pakistani cyber team has claimed responsibility for disrupting the live broadcasts of Indian news channels TV9 Telugu and Freedom TV Live by replacing the programming with Pakistan’s national anthem during a live event. According to claims shared online, the incident occurred while the President of India was addressing an event in Visakhapatnam. The group alleged that the national anthem of Pakistan was played on the affected channels for nearly six minutes before normal broadcasting resumed. The reported incident quickly gained attention on social media, where screenshots and statements circulated regarding the alleged cyber operation. At the time of publication, the claims had not been independently verified, and no official confirmation had been issued by the affected broadcasters regarding the reported disruption.
According to the statement attributed to the Pakistani cyber team, the operation was carried out as a response to what it described as attempted cyberattacks targeting Pakistani media organizations, specifically Geo TV and Samaa TV. The group claimed the disruption was intended as retaliation following those alleged attempts. The attackers stated that they successfully gained access to the broadcasting systems of TV9 Telugu and Freedom TV Live and temporarily replaced the live feed with Pakistan’s national anthem while the presidential address was underway. The claims suggest that the interruption lasted for approximately six minutes before the channels resumed normal transmission. However, there has been no independent technical verification confirming the method used, the duration of the reported disruption, or whether the live broadcast was compromised in the manner described by the group.
The cyber team further claimed that the operation exposed weaknesses in the security infrastructure protecting the affected broadcasters. According to the statement, the incident demonstrated vulnerabilities within the channels’ defensive measures, allowing unauthorized access to their broadcast systems. The group also highlighted that both television channels have audiences numbering in the millions, suggesting that the disruption affected a significant number of viewers during the live event. Despite these assertions, no official technical assessment has been released by the broadcasters or relevant authorities to confirm whether any firewall weaknesses or security failures contributed to the reported incident. Without an official investigation or forensic analysis, the extent of any compromise remains unclear.
As of the time of publication, TV9 Telugu and Freedom TV Live had not publicly confirmed the reported cyber incident or issued statements regarding the claims circulating online. Likewise, there has been no official information indicating whether any broadcast infrastructure, internal systems, or related digital assets were affected beyond the alleged interruption. The claims made by the cyber team remain unverified, and the identity of those responsible has not been independently confirmed. The reported incident comes amid continued cyber activity involving media organizations in the region, where website defacements, service disruptions, and claims of retaliatory cyber operations have increasingly been shared through online platforms. Until further technical findings or official responses become available, the reported disruption should be treated as an unverified claim based on statements issued by the individuals who have claimed responsibility.
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