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COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ENGLISH NEWS

CHANNEL INDUSTRY-a consumer ersec!"#e
In partial completion of PGDBM Programme
From NIILM-CMS, New Delhi

Prepared Under he G!idance "f#
$NUP$M S%$&M$ P&"FF'SS"& S$&I($ "M$&
&oll No) *+,-* %& Fac!lt. NIILM-CMS
PGDBM *,,+-,/
1
Certificate of $!thenticit.

This is to certify that the DISS'&$I"N &'P"& on
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ENGLISH NEWS CHANNEL
INDUSTRY-a consumer ersec!"#e
prepared by 0$NUP$M S%$&M$0 Roll No. 0*+o-*0 of PGDBM 2006
0! Batch is his ori"inal #or$ %nder &y "%idance and s%per'ision.



(signature) (signature)
Mr1) Sari2a omar $NUP$M S%$&M$
F$CUL3 %& *+,-*
NIILM-CMS B$C% 4*,,+-,/5
NIILM-CMS
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Ac$no%&e'(emen!
To #al$ safely thro%"h the &a(e of h%&an life) one needs the li"ht of #isdo& and the
"%idance of 'irt%e.
*ny s%ccessf%l endea'or has &any s%pportin" pillars behind it. The s%ccessf%l
c%l&ination of the endea'or is i&possible #itho%t ac$no#led"in" the help and s%pport
e+tended to those pillars.
, #o%ld be"in by ac$no#led"in" the role of &y instit%te N,,-MCM. and its 'enerated
fac%lty #ho pro'ided &e #ith s%pport at e'ery step of the trainin" for &e to be able to
co&plete it s%ccessf%lly.
, #o%ld li$e to than$ PR/001./R .*R,2* T/M*R) o%r 3R fac%lty N,,-MCM. for
bein" in'ol'ed in the pro4ect on a thoro%"h basis and helpin" &e cross the h%rdles #ith
her "%idance.
, #o%ld also li$e to than$ &iss N. Meena$shi) fac%lty N,,-MCM. for her "%idance
d%rin" 'ario%s phases of research.
, #o%ld also li$e to ac$no#led"e the s%pport of &y friends) participants of foc%s "ro%p
and all the other teachers at N,,-MCM.. There inp%ts and teachin" ha'e been
in'al%able in shapin" &y tho%"hts.

$NUP$M S%$&M$

&"LLN") *+,-*
B$C% 4*,,+-,/5
NIILM-CMS
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C"N'NS
*c$no#led"e&ent...............................................................................................................5
161C7T,81 .7MM*R9.................................................................................................:
,NTR/D7CT,/N...............................................................................................................6
Detailed loo$ at the players in 1n"lish Ne#s channel do&ain in ,ndia..........................;
Re'ie# of related -iterat%re .............................................................................................1<
,ndian Tele'ision 0lash Bac$......................................................................................20
G%lf =ar > The Catalyst................................................................................................21
Ma4or Players.....................................................................................................................22
T31 91*R T3*T =*...................................................................................................26
1n"lish ne#s channel ind%stry.......................................................................................26
3indi ne#s channel ind%stry..........................................................................................2<
/b4ecti'es /f The Research.............................................................................................52
M1T3/D/-/G9 7.1D 0/R T31 .T7D9.................................................................55
R1.1*RC3 D1.,GN...................................................................................................5:
0oc%s Gro%p /b4ecti'es.................................................................................................5:
.*MP-,NG *ND GR/7P C/MP/.,T,/N .............................................................5:
Method *nd Proced%re .................................................................................................5?
.%&&ary of the 0indin"s...................................................................................................5?
Perceptions re"ardin" the ne#s channels in ,ndia .......................................................56
Nat%re of pro"ra&s preferred on 1n"lish ne#s channels..............................................5;
Main Criteria for ne#s channel choice a&on" yo%th....................................................5<
Credibility of the ne#ly la%nched 1n"lish ne#s channel..............................................:0
Reliability of forei"n ne#s channel 'is@'is forei"n ne#s channels............................:2
Belief in the Ratin"s of 'ario%s 1n"lish ne#s channels ...............................................:5
Reco&&endations..............................................................................................................:?
=1B-,/GR*P39 and B,B-,/GR*P39......................................................................:;
E)ECUTIVE SUMMARY
=ith the co&petition stea&in" %p in the ne#s channel ind%stry e'ery ne#s channel has
ta$en its o#n path to create brand a#areness and %niA%e brand i&a"e in an effort to reach
the pinnacle of TRP ratin"s. *lso it has &eant that A%ality of ne#s broadcast had
i&pro'ed by leaps and bo%nds. B%t on the flip side a trend of ne#s bein" sensationali(ed
has also e&er"ed. This st%dy ai&s to e+plore the %nderlyin" factors that affect the
perceptions abo%t reliability) li$eability and credibility of ne#s bein" broadcast by an
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1n"lish ne#s channel alon" #ith the factors that affect the 'ie#ership of 1n"lish ne#s
channels.
This 1+ploratory research has "ained insi"ht into so&e of the $ey factors that affect
attit%des of yo%th to#ards 1n"lish ne#s channels and dri'in" force behind the 1n"lish
ne#s channel 'ie#ership thro%"h t#o foc%s "ro%p of ei"ht &e&bers each.
The res%lts sho# that 1n"lish ne#s channels #hich pro'ide the ne#s in conte&porary
style are percei'ed to be better by the yo%th.
Debates) ne#s b%lletins and political inter'ie#s are the $ind of pro"ra&s that ed%cated
yo%th li$es to #atch on 1n"lish ne#s channels.
*lso the reliability and li$eability of partic%lar anchor also contrib%tes to#ards the ne#s
channels bein" 'ie#ed as &ore tr%thf%l.
2no#led"e and infor&ation pro'ided by 1n"lish ne#s channels #as a pop%lar the&e
r%nnin" thro%"h the participants as a reason for #atchin" a partic%lar ne#s channels.
0or international ne#s forei"n ne#s channels are tho%"ht of as &ore reliable than ,ndian
1n"lish ne#s channels. B%t all in all 1n"lish ,ndian ne#s channels are held in "ood stead
by the yo%th.
1n"lish ne#s channels sho%ld ta$e so&e &ore steps to enhance there acceptability by
telecastin" %nbiased and non partisan ne#s and 'ie#s and also try to co'er 'ariety of
topics to catch yo%thBs attention and also in'est in brandin" of ne#s anchors.
1n"lish ne#s channels sho%ld also stay a#ay fro& sensationali(in" the iss%es raise
a#areness abo%t the critical iss%es.
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INTRODUCTION
,n the c%rrent liberali(ed en'iron&ent that is characteri(ed by infor&ation and $no#led"e
base) the &edia) partic%larly the satellite tele'ision ne#s channels) is a 'ery po#erf%l
&edi%& that plays a si"nificant role in shapin" p%blic opinions and beliefs) and
disse&inatin" correct infor&ation and $no#led"e #ith a h%"e responsibility on their
sho%lders. .%ch disse&ination of ne#s) 'ie#s) and other infor&ation has farreachin"
affects on societies) b%sinesses) and "o'ern&ents. *t the sa&e ti&e) today) the electronic
&edia attracts the best talent in the co%ntry. =hen talented people #or$ in s%ch an
ind%stry) society e+pects the& to act in a &ore acco%ntable &anner and pro'ide it #ith
those ne#s stories that #ill increase their $no#led"e) their so%rces of infor&ation) and
inspire the& to inc%lcate a feelin" of responsibility to#ard society.
=ith the proliferation of cable tele'ision in ,ndia the n%&ber of tele'ision channels has
ta$en a "iant leap for#ard. /ne partic%lar area in tele'ision broadcastin" #hich has really
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ta$en centresta"e is the increase in n%&ber of ne#s channels in 1n"lish) 3indi and
re"ional lan"%a"es. The tele'ision ne#s channels ind%stry is no# littered #ith &yriad
n%&ber of players 'yin" for the top slot in the ind%stry. ,t is said that ,ndian 'ie#ers no#
spend &ore ti&e #atchin" ne#s than readin" ne#s) as T8 ne#s channels in ,ndia ha'e
been co&petin" #ith each other for &ore 'ie#ership.
,t costs abo%t Rs.2 billion to la%nch and s%stain A%ality ne#s channel. ,n this co&petiti'e
&ar$et) channels are tar"etin" specific 'ie#ers. Ne#s channels attract &ore 'ie#ers
beyond their tar"et by prod%cin" interacti'e and interestin" pro"ra&&es.
1'ery channel needs to do an e+tensi'e research on different concepts and different
the&es to attract &ore 'ie#ers and in the sa&e ti&e &ore ad'ertisers. 3indi ne#s
channel ind%stry is do&inated by players li$e **C T*2) .tar Ne#s) Ndt',ndia) (ee
ne#s) .ahara sa&ay) ,ndia T8) CNBC *#aa( and ,BN;.
,ndian 1n"lish channels incl%de NDT8 2:+;) CNN,BN) 3eadlines Today) Ti&es No#)
Ndt' profit and Cnbc D4oint 'ent%re bet#een t'1! and CnbcE.
0orei"n 1n"lish ne#s channel pri&arily incl%de CNNDcable ne#s net#or$E and
BBCDBritish Broadcastin" CorporationE.
De!a"&e' &oo$ a! !*e &a+ers "n En(&"s* Ne%s c*anne& 'oma"n "n
In'"a,
ND6 *789
NDT8 2:F; is a pre&ier 1n"lish lan"%a"e ne#s channel in ,ndia that is o#ned by Ne#
Delhi Tele'ision -td. -a%nched in 2005) ND6 *7:9 is the fla"ship 1n"lish ne#s
channel and the &ar$et leader #ith an %nri'alled rep%tation for e+cellence. The channel
is ho&e to a tea& of a#ard #innin" 4o%rnalists #ho spearhead the ne#s ca&pai"n Dr.
Prannoy Roy) Bar$ha D%tt) 8i$ra& Chandra a&on" others. The channel prod%ces
ori"inal content s%ch as doc%&entaries and special reports and sho#cases a#ard #innin"
pro"ra&s li$e G=e the PeopleH and GThe Bi" 0i"ht.H ,t is the lar"est pri'ate prod%cer of
ne#s and c%rrent affairs pro"ra&&in". NDT8 2:+; is #idely considered the best 2:
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ho%r 1n"lish ne#s channel in ,ndia. ,t #on the *sian Tele'ision *#ard for Best Ne#s
Channel in 200?.
.The channel contin%es to prod%ce ori"inal content s%ch as doc%&entaries and special
reports.The channel airs one of ,ndiaIs &ost s%ccessf%l opinionbased sho#sJ =e the
People #ith Bar$ha D%tt. The sho# has recei'ed critical acclai& and has #on se'eral $ey
a#ards. *nother 'ery pop%lar sho# is hosted on NDT8 2:+; called IThe Bi" 0i"htI
hosted by 8i$ra& Chandra
CNN-IBN
CNN,BN is an 1n"lish lan"%a"e ,ndian T8 ne#s channel. The net#or$ is a partnership
bet#een Global Broadcast Ne#s DGBNE and T%rner ,nternational DT%rnerE in ,ndia.
Ra4deep .ardesai is the 1ditorinChief of the net#or$. CNN,BN is $no#n as 0o+ Ne#s
of ,ndia beca%se of its tabloid 4o%rnalis&. The ,ndian co&pany GBN r%ns the channel
co&pletely b%t %ses the CNN brand na&e and inret%rn "i'in" Ti&e =arner a 26K sta$e.
The net#or$ broadcasts 2: ho%rs a day. The net#or$ &odels &ost of its pro"ra&&in"
si&ilar to that of CNN in the 7nited .tates) #ith c%rrent e'ent tal$ pro"ra&s &i+ed #ith
ne#s reports. The fla"ship e'enin" pro"ra&) ,ndia at <) is %s%ally broadcast daily on
CNN Pipeline) altho%"h is not si&%lcasted De+cept d%rin" brea$in" ne#s e'ents) s%ch as
the 11 C%ly 2006 M%&bai train bo&bin"sE. ,t is one of the first ne#s channel in ,ndia to
ha'e the concept of LCiti(en Co%rnalistL #here any person can send in his report to the
channel #hich is aired in a separate section.
-a%nched in 200?) CNN,BNIs na&e co&es fro& CNN) T%rnerIs fla"ship net#or$ in the
7nited .tates) and ,BN D#hich stands for ,ndia Broadcast Ne#sE #hich is GBNIs fla"ship
ne#s channel brand. CNN,BN #on the trophy for best 1n"lish ne#s channel #hile its
1ditorinChief Ra4deep .ardesai #as ad4%d"ed ne#s&a$er of the year d%rin" the first
year of ,ndian Ne#s Tele'ision *#ards in 200;
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IM'S N";
Ti&es No# is a 2:ho%r 1n"lish ne#s channel broadcast only in the .o%th *sian re"ion.
,t is a 'ent%re Ti&es Gro%p in ,ndia. The channel has for"ed a strate"ic partnership #ith
Re%ters to acA%ire an ed"e o'er others. Re%ters is a "lobal ne#s co&pany that belie'es
stron"ly in pro'idin" a "lobal ne#s e+perience tailored to the needs of each local
a%dience,t la%nched early2006 e+pandin" Ti&es Gro%pIs reach into ne#s tele'ision
pro"ra&&in" in ,ndia as #ell as to try and car'e o%t its o#n slice of the tiny 1n"lish
ne#s channels in ,ndia pie. The channel belie'es in Ine#s #ith an opinionI and has a
"enero%s sprin$le of politics) sports) entertain&ent and b%siness.
,t #as the first channel to be la%nched first on Mobile .creens DReliance ,nfoco&&
Net#or$E) before it #as la%nched on the tele'ision screens
Ti&es No# pro'ides ne#s and entertain&ent for the %rbane a%dience. 0eat%re sho#s
incl%deJ
0ran$ly .pea$in"
*ll *bo%t 3er
The Ne#sho%r
Re%ters =orld Report
Ne#s No# /'erni"ht
The Ga&e
1 No#
The initial response to the la%nch of this channel #as de&%re) in response to the
n%&ero%s other 2:; Ne#s Channels. 3o#e'er) after e+pos%re to 1n"lishspea$in"
cro#d and in con4%nction #ith creati'e &ethods) it has beco&e &ore pop%lar #ith the
#ide ran"in" p%blic.
%'$DLIN'S "D$3
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3eadlines Today is a 2:ho%r 1n"lish lan"%a"e ,ndian ne#s and infor&ation tele'ision
channel sponsored by T8 Today Net#or$ -td. #hich is a part of the #ell$no#n ,ndia
Today Gro%p. The channel #as la%nched in the year 2005 is a sister channel of the 3indi
*a4 Ta$ ne#s channel and is one of the fo%r niche ne#s channels fro& the T8 Today
Net#or$ stable. 3eadlines Today is a co&prehensi'e and s&art ne#s prod%ct foc%sed on
the &etro %rbanite. ,t caters to the infor&ation needs of the yo%n") on the &o'e) &ainly
%rban 1n"lishspea$in" a%diences. The channel has been styled to cater to the taste of its
%rban a%dience. This is reflected in the content selection and the loo$ and feel of the
channel. /f co%rse) 3eadlines Today offers not 4%st the best of national b%t also
international co'era"e in li"ht of the fact that todayIs 'ie#er is tr%ly cos&opolitan and
has a "lobal o%tloo$.
3eadlines Today has &any pop%lar e+trane#s pro"ra&&es s%ch as L=heel .pinL) L1ML)
LThe Bi" Tic$etL) LGrand .tandL and L.ports M%arterL.
ND6 Profit
NDT8 profit is a b%siness ne#s channel started by Ne# Delhi Tele'ision in Can%ary
200?. .tarted to pro'ide co&petition to the &onopoly en4oyed by CNBCT81!) the
channel has &ana"ed to "arner a decent &ar$et share.
,t has a lar"e n%&ber of 4o%rnalists co'erin" the action fro& the Bo&bay .toc$ 1+chan"e
DB.1E and the National .toc$ 1+chan"e DN.1E. 0%rther&ore) it also co'ers the latest
b%siness deals and acts as a platfor& for co&panies to "i'e their p%blic res%lts) #ith
"ro#th rate) net profit etc. /n 1: Dec 2006 NDT8 Profit #as la%nched a 'ideo screen at
the B.1 b%ildin".
CNBC-6-/
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CNBC T8 1! is one of ,ndiaIs leadin" b%siness ne#s channels)and is a 4oint 'ent%re of
CNBC and Tele'ision 1i"hteen ,ndia -i&ited DT81!E. CNBC *sia holds a tiny strate"ic
eA%ity sta$e in the ,ndian co&pany T81! #hich is listed on the Bo&bay .toc$ 1+chan"e
and the National .toc$ 1+chan"e of ,ndia.
The channelIs bench&ar$ co'era"e e+tends fro& corporate ne#s) financial &ar$ets
co'era"e) e+pert perspecti'e on in'estin" and &ana"e&ent to ind%stry 'erticals and
beyond. CNBCT81! has been constantly inno'atin" #ith ne# "enres of pro"ra&&in"
that helps &a$e b%siness &ore rele'ant to different constit%encies across ,ndia.
Moneycontrol.co& ser'es as the online a'atar of CNBCT81! content.
CNN
Cable Ne#s Net#or$) co&&only referred to by its initialis& CNN) is a &a4or ne#s cable
tele'ision net#or$ fo%nded in 1<!0 by Ted T%rner. The net#or$ is no# o#ned by Ti&e
=arnerN the ne#s net#or$ is a di'ision of the T%rner Broadcastin" .yste&. CNN
introd%ced the idea of 2:ho%r tele'ision ne#s co'era"e) celebratin" its 2?th anni'ersary
on C%ne 1) 200?.
,n ter&s of c%&%lati'e Nielsen ratin"s or L%niA%e 'ie#ersL) CNN rates as *&ericaIs
n%&ber one cable ne#s so%rce. =hile the ne#s net#or$ has n%&ero%s affiliates) CNN
pri&arily broadcasts fro& its headA%arters at the CNN Center in *tlanta) the Ti&e
=arner Center in Ne# 9or$ City) and st%dios in =ashin"ton) D.C. *s of Dece&ber
200:) the net#or$ is a'ailable in !!.2 &illion 7... ho%seholds and &ore than !<0)000
*&erican hotel roo&s. The 7.. 'ersion of their broadcast is also sho#n in Canada.
Globally) CNN airs thro%"h CNN ,nternational and has co&bined branded net#or$s and
ser'ices that are a'ailable to &ore than 1.? billion people in o'er 212 co%ntries and
territories.
BBC
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he Briti1h Broadca1ting Corporation) #hich is %s%ally $no#n si&ply as the BBC) is
the #orldIs lar"est broadcastin" corporation. ,t has 2!)000 e&ployees in the 7nited
2in"do& alone and an ann%al b%d"et of &ore than O: billion.
0o%nded on 1! /ctober 1<22 as the British Broadcastin" Co&pany -td) it #as
s%bseA%ently "ranted a Royal Charter and &ade a stateo#ned corporation in 1<2;. The
corporation prod%ces pro"ra&&es and infor&ation ser'ices) broadcastin" "lobally on
tele'ision) radio) and the ,nternet. The stated &ission of the BBC is Lto infor&) ed%cate
and entertainL its &otto is LNation .hall .pea$ Peace 7nto NationL.
The BBC is a A%asia%tono&o%s p%blic corporation as a p%blic ser'ice broadcaster. The
Corporation is r%n by the BBC Tr%stN and is) per its charter) Lfree fro& both political and
co&&ercial infl%ence and ans#ers only to its 'ie#ers and listenersL.
The BBCIs do&estic pro"ra&&in" and broadcasts are pri&arily f%nded by le'yin"
tele'ision license fees D%nder the =ireless Tele"raphy *ct 1<:<E) altho%"h &oney is also
raised thro%"h co&&ercial acti'ities s%ch as sale of &erchandise and pro"ra&&in".
,t is also the lar"est ne#s "atherin" syste& by &eans of its ne#s"atherin" operationN
BBC Ne#s"atherin") #hich incl%des 'ario%s re"ional offices) forei"n correspondents and
a"ree&ents #ith other ne#s ser'ices. ,t reaches &ore than 200 co%ntries and is a'ailable
to &ore than 2;: &illion ho%seholds) to CNNIs Dits nearest co&petitorE esti&ated 200
&illion. ,ts radio ser'ice is in the short #a'elen"th) #hich &a$es it a'ailable to &any
re"ions of the #orld. ,t also broadcasts ne#s by radio or o'er the ,nternet in so&e 50
lan"%a"es) and its total n%&ber of broadcasted radio ho%rs per #ee$ is s%rpassed only by
the 8oice of *&erica %&brella and the Chinese p%blic radio
The 1%ropean Broadcastin" 7nion #as for&ed on 12 0ebr%ary 1<?0) in TorA%ay #ith the
BBC a&on" the 25 fo%ndin" broadcastin" or"anisations.
BBC Ne#s is the lar"est broadcast ne#s "atherin" operation in the #orld) pro'idin"
ser'ices to BBC do&estic radio as #ell as tele'ision net#or$s s%ch as BBC Ne#s 2:)
BBC Parlia&ent and BBC =orld) as #ell as BBCi) Ceefa+ and BBC Ne#s /nline. Ne#
BBC Ne#s ser'ices that are also pro'in" pop%lar are &obile ser'ices to &obile phones
and PD*s. Des$top ne#s alerts) e&ail alerts) and di"ital T8 alerts are also a'ailable
1
Ratin"s fi"%res s%""est that d%rin" &a4or crises s%ch as the ; C%ly 200? -ondon
bo&bin"s or a royal f%neral) the 72 a%dience o'er#hel&in"ly t%rns to the BBCIs
co'era"e as opposed to its co&&ercial ri'als. /n ; C%ly 200?) the day that there #ere a
series of coordinated bo&b blasts on -ondonIs p%blic transport syste&) the bbc.co.%$
#ebsite recorded an all ti&e band#idth pea$ of 11 GbPs at 12J00 on ; C%ly. BBC Ne#s
recei'ed so&e 1 billion total hits on the day of the e'ent Dincl%din" all i&a"es) te+t and
3TM-E) ser'in" so&e ?.? terabytes of data. *t pea$ ti&es d%rin" the day there #ere
:0)000 pa"e reA%ests per second for the BBC Ne#s #ebsite. The pre'io%s dayIs
anno%nce&ent of the 2012 /ly&pics bein" a#arded to -ondon ca%sed a pea$ of aro%nd
? GbitPs. The pre'io%s all ti&e hi"h at bbc.co.%$ #as ca%sed by the anno%nce&ent of the
Michael Cac$son 'erdict) #hich %sed ;.2 GbitPs.
BBC /ne and BBC T#o are the BBCIs fla"ship tele'ision channels. The BBC is also
pro&otin" the ne# channels BBC Three and BBC 0o%r) #hich are only a'ailable 'ia
di"ital tele'ision eA%ip&ent Dno# in #idespread %se in the 72) #ith analo"%e
trans&ission bein" phased o%t by Dece&ber 2012E. The BBC also r%ns BBC Ne#s 2:)
BBC Parlia&ent) and t#o childrenIs channels) CBBC and CBeebies) on di"ital.
BBC /ne is a re"ionali(ed T8 ser'ice #hich pro'ides opto%ts thro%"ho%t the day for
local ne#s and other local pro"ra&&in". These 'ariations are &ore prono%nced in the
BBC INationsI) i.e. Northern ,reland) .cotland and =ales) #here the presentation is
&ostly carried o%t locally on BBC /ne and T#o. BBC T#o 'ariations #ithin 1n"land
are c%rrently rare) tho%"h &ost re"ions still ha'e the ability to Iopt o%tI of the &ain feed)
albeit on analo"%e only. BBC T#o #as also the first channel to be trans&itted on 62?
lines in 1<6:) then carry a s&allscale re"%lar color ser'ice fro& 1<6;. BBC /ne #o%ld
follo# in Dece&ber 1<6<.
BBCi is the brand na&e for the BBCIs interacti'e di"ital tele'ision ser'ices) #hich are
a'ailable thro%"h 0ree'ie# Ddi"ital terrestrialE) as #ell as .$y Di"ital DsatelliteE) and
8ir"in Media DcableE. 7nli$e Ceefa+) BBCi is able to display f%llcolo%r "raphics)
photo"raphs) and 'ideo) as #ell as pro"ra&&es. Recent e+a&ples incl%de the interacti'e
sports co'era"e for football and r%"by football &atches) BBC .o%ndbites #hich starred
1
yo%n" actress Cennifer -ynn and an interacti'e national ,M test) Test the Nation. *ll of
the BBCIs di"ital tele'ision stations) Dand radio stations on 0ree'ie#E) allo# access to the
BBCi ser'ice.
BBC ;orld
BBC #orld is the BBCIs international ne#s and c%rrent affairs tele'ision channel. ,t has
the bi""est a%dience of any BBC channel. 0o%nded in 1<<1 as BBC =orld .er'ice
Tele'ision Dthe na&e #as chan"ed in 1<<?E) BBC =orld broadcasts for 2: ho%rs #ith
pro"ra&&in" incl%din" BBC Ne#s b%lletins) doc%&entaries) lifestyle pro"ra&&es and
inter'ie#s. ,ts &ain "lobal co&petitor is CNN ,nternational) tho%"h it also co&petes #ith
other &a4or ne#s broadcastin" co&panies. ,t is considered to be the &ost #atched ne#s
channel) ahead of CNN.
BBC =orld #as na&ed Best ,nternational Ne#s Channel at the *ssociation for
,nternational Broadcastin" *#ards in No'e&ber 2006.
The channel ori"inally la%nched as BBC =orld .er'ice Tele'ision) tho%"h %nli$e BBC
=orld .er'ice radio #hich has al#ays been "o'ern&ent f%nded) the British "o'ern&ent
ref%sed to e+tend the 0orei"n /ffice "rantinaid. ,t #as la%nched on March 11) 1<<1)
after 2 #ee$s of real ti&e pilots) initially as a halfho%r b%lletin once a day at 1<00 GMT.
The pro"ra&&e editor #as Cohan LCohnL Ra&sland. The ori"inal pict%re editin" tea&
consisted of Bob .choles) Peter 3od"e Q Mi$e Casey.
BBC =orld itself la%nched in 1<<? #ith the split of BBC =orld .er'ice Tele'ision into
t#o stationsJ BBC Pri&e an encrypted entertain&ent channel reA%irin" s%bscription)
and the free to air BBC =orld.
Thro%"ho%t the past ele'en years) the ser'ice has "one thro%"h se'eral brandin" chan"es.
0ro& 1<<? to 1<<;) the channel %sed fe# "raphics to display the na&e of the channel)
#ith the act%al ne#s st%dio &odeled on that %sed for BBC Ne#s in the 7nited 2in"do&.
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*s part of the &a4or rela%nch of the i&a"e of the BBC incl%din" a ne# lo"o for the
corporation in 1<<;) the channel recei'ed its first &ain refresh. 8ario%s fictional fla"s
#ith so&e real #ere %sed. The idents #ere co&p%ter "enerated and de'eloped by the
-a&bieNairn desi"n a"ency.
The lar"est rela%nch for BBC Ne#s ca&e in 1<<< #ith all o%tp%t) both in the 72 and for
BBC =orld "lobally ha'in" a %nifor& loo$ &ade %p of red and crea&. M%sic based on a
style described as Idr%&s and beepsI #as introd%ced) co&posed by Da'id -o#e) a
depart%re fro& the "eneral orchestral 'ersions of other ne#s pro"ra&&es.
,n 2005 and 200: a second &a$eo'er) %sin" the sa&e Idr%&s and beepsI style &%sic b%t
ne# "raphics too$ place) altho%"h on a &%ch s&aller scale to that of 1<<<. The &%sic
#as chan"ed sli"htly #hile the &ain color sche&e beca&e blac$ and red) #ith st%dios
%sin" a frosted "lass) #hite and red desi"n for colorin"s. -ater in 200: the channelIs
slo"an beca&e P%ttin" Ne#s 0irst) replacin" De&and a Broader 8ie#.
BBC =orld is &ost co&&only #atched as an 0T* Channel. The channel is a'ailable
freetoair D0T*E in ,taly) 'ia di"ital terrestrial tele'ision) and in all parts of 1%rope and
&any parts of the #orld 0T* 'ia satellite. D,t #as also a'ailable 'ia terrestrial 0T* in
Berlin fro& c. 2000 to March 200;E. *ltho%"h not officially a'ailable in the 72 it is
a'ailable to people #ho point their satellite dishes at *stra 1) 3ot Bird and Thor. ,n &ost
of the #orld) it is carried on nearly all satellite and cable platfor&s.
,t is also a'ailable online thro%"h the s%bscription ser'ice RealPlayer Pl%s and online li'e
strea&in" ser'ice Calipo. ,n Bahrain and the 7nited *rab 1&irates it is additionally
a'ailable as a s%bscription &obile phone ser'ice) ha'in" also been a'ailable as a
terrestrial channel.
* daily 'ersion of its ne#s b%lletins are also rebroadcast on &any 0T* terrestrial
channels li$e in Ne# Realand) #here it is carried o'erni"ht on T8 /N1) and in Trinidad
and Toba"o #here it is carried o'erni"ht on T86.
1
,n 1%rope) analo"%e satellite broadcastin" 'ia 3ot Bird 6 ceased on 1! *pril 2006 at
&idday) altho%"h its di"ital freetoair si"nal is replicated on 3ot Bird 6) 3ot Bird ;*)
Thor 2 and on *stra 12R.
,t is also a'ailable 2:P; in *%stralia on 0o+tel) *%star and /pt%s Tele'ision as #ell as the
5 &obile phone net#or$. ,n Ne# Realand) it is also broadcast 'ia satellite on .29
Net#or$ Tele'ision and 'ia cable on TelstraClear.
,n *sia) it #as ori"inally carried on .T*R T8) the pan*sian satellite tele'ision ser'ice
based in 3on" 2on") #hich #as later acA%ired by R%pert M%rdoch) b%t s#itched to
Pan*&.at in 1<<6. ,t is also a'ailable on *stro in Malaysia. ,n ,ndia it #as 0T* till 1?
C%ne 2006 b%t is no# a pay channel.
The BBC has a rep%tation a&on"st &any for independent and acc%rate reportin" of ne#s
and c%rrent affairs. 7nli$e other parts of the Corporation) BBC =orld is f%nded by
co&&ercial sponsors) #hich has raised A%estions abo%t its ability to report i&partially
.
3o#e'er BBC =orld -td) #hich r%ns the channel) is a different co&pany fro& BBC
Ne#s) #hich s%pplies the b%lletins.
BBC =orld has occasionally &ade &ista$es) as in the incident #here on the t#entieth
anni'ersary of the Bhopal disaster) 5 Dece&ber 200:) BBC =orld #as d%ped into
broadcastin" an inter'ie# #ith a hoa+er Dlater re'ealed to ha'e been *ndy Bichlba%&) a
&e&ber of The 9es MenE clai&in" to be a representati'e of Do# Che&ical Co&pany
offerin" a 7.S12)000)000)000 settle&ent to the 120)000 s%r'i'in" 'icti&s of the Bhopal
disaster. 7pon disco'ery of the hoa+) the BBCIs Press /ffice i&&ediately p%t o%t a
state&ent re"ardin" #hat had happened and the story #as dropped fro& s%bseA%ent BBC
=orld Ne#s b%lletins and those on the 2: ho%r 72 ne#s channel) BBC Ne#s 2:
Business Programmes:
=orld B%siness Report ,nternational B%siness ne#s. -i'e editions thro%"ho%t the day
bet#een 0?50 and 2500 72 Ti&e. The 2250 edition is presented fro& -ondon and Ne#
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9or$. This edition is repeated se'eral ti&es bet#een 2550 and 0?00 72 ti&e and the
repeats can also be seen in the 72 'ia BBC Ne#s 2: at separate ti&es.
*sia B%siness Report Broadcast li'e fro& .in"apore and only seen on the *sia feeds of
BBC =orld.
Middle 1ast B%siness Report is pre recorded and broadcast at the #ee$end.
,ndia B%siness Report is pre recorded and broadcast at the #ee$end.
Li<e programme1J
*sia Today *siaspecific ne#s broadcast fro& the &ain =orld Ne#sroo&..
Trans&itted li'e t#ice each day. The last edition is repeated at 'ario%s ti&es on the *sia
feeds.
.port Today > ,nternational .port ne#s. Trans&itted fi'e ti&es each day.
3a'e 9o%r .ay * #ee$ly pro"ra&&e that allo#s 'ie#ers to share their tho%"hts and
A%estions #ith "%ests.
Pre recorded programme1 incl!de#
3*RDtal$ indi'id%al inter'ie#s
Clic$ technolo"y
0ast Trac$ tra'el
Tal$in" Mo'ies fil&s D&ainly fro& 3olly#oodE
This =ee$ analysis of ne#s fro& the past #ee$
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,n addition) a special half ho%r 'ersion of the pop%lar BBC T#o pro"ra&&e Top Gear
airs on #ee$ends) and other BBC doc%&entaries s%ch as 3olidays in the Dan"er Rone air
fro& ti&e to ti&e.
,n India) &any pro"ra&&es tailor&ade for a local a%dience are sho#n ) incl%din"
M%estion Ti&e ,ndia) A%i( sho# 7ni'ersity Challen"e ,ndia) ,ndia B%siness Report) ,T
,ndia To&orro#) 0ace to 0ace and &otor sho# =heels
BBC Ne#s has been banned in se'eral co%ntries pri&arily for reportin" #hich has been
%nfa'o%rable to the r%lin" "o'ern&ent. Most notable e+a&ples ha'e been in 7(be$istan)
Ri&bab#e and China.
BBC =orld is) for the &ost part) the sa&e channel all o'er the #orld T e+cept for the
co&&ercials. 3o#e'er) there are so&e re"ional pro"ra&&in" 'ariations. 0or e+a&ple) a
n%&ber of pro"ra&&es are &ade e+cl%si'ely for re"ional 'ie#in"s) s%ch as ,ndian feeds)
and The Record 1%rope) #hich is only broadcast in 1%rope. ,n addition) the *sia
B%siness Report fro& .in"apore is only aired in *sia) *%stralia) Ne# Realand and the
Middle 1ast. The rest of the #orld sees the =orld B%siness Report D=orld B%siness
Report is sho#n in *sia) *%stralia) Ne# Realand and the Middle 1ast) b%t are on at
different ti&es dependin" on the co%ntry.E
/n &ost feeds of BBC =orld) co&&ercials are inserted by the cable or satellite pro'ider
si&ilar to other channels. =hen a cable or satellite pro'ider does not insert co&&ercials)
the LBrea$fillerL Dsee ri"htE sho#s pro&otions for %pco&in" pro"ra&&es on the channel.
D%rin" BBC Ne#s) a ne#s story that has not been pro&oted airs d%rin" #hat #o%ld be
the co&&ercial brea$. This is the case on the broadband 'ersions of BBC =orld) and on
'ersions of BBC =orld aired in the 7nited .tates on P%blic Broadcastin" .er'ice DPB.E
stations. 3o#e'er) there are so&e "lobal co&&ercials and sponsorships #hich air
thro%"ho%t the net#or$.
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BBC =orld %ndertoo$ ne# `Global Indian' research in 200? to %nderstand the
internationally &inded ,ndians #ho ta$e an acti'e interest in the happenin"s aro%nd the
#orld.
The st%dy #hich loo$ed at %nderstandin" international ne#s 'ie#ers re'ealed that people
ta$e interest in the #ider #orld for professional) social and intellect%al reasons.
,t indicated that ,ndians loo$ for international infor&ation to #iden their hori(ons $eep
abreast of the latest happenin"s) for #or$related de'elop&ents as #ell as for personal
reasons. ,ndians feel that this helps in decision &a$in" and $eeps one prepared for the
chan"in" scenario. 0or instance) chan"es in the international stoc$ &ar$ets infl%ence the
do&estic stoc$ &ar$et
Re#"e% o- re&a!e' L"!era!ure
The electronic channels ha'e al#ays &ade an atte&pt to co'er all the incidents
irrespecti'e of position) location and ti&e. The channels of today ha'e not only
re'ol%tioni(ed the concept of ne#s on ,ndian tele'ision b%t also chan"ed the ne#s
for&ats. Before 1<<0s) Doordarshan had &onopoli(ed ne#scast on ,ndian tele'ision and
also t%rned the ne#s pro"ra&s into a do#dy e+ercise. No# the pri'ate channels &ade the
ne#s an essential co&&odity li$e food) cloth and shelter. The stron" point of all todayBs
ne#s b%lletins is their topicality) ob4ecti'ity) "lossy editin" and hi"hA%ality 'is%als.
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Ne#s has tra'eled a lon" #ay fro& the DD era. 0ro& -ocal e'ents to ,nternational
e'ents) brea$in" ne#s to ne#s analysis) tele'ision soap to pa"e5 ne#s) e'ery happenin"
co&es %nder p%r'ie# of ne#s.
In'"an Te&e#"s"on - F&as* .ac$
Tele'ision in ,ndia has %nder"one si"nificant chan"es in the c%rrent liberali(ed
en'iron&ent. To %nderstand these chan"es) one needs to ha'e so&e brief idea of the road
co'ered by the tele'ision channels so far. The 4o%rney started as an e+peri&ental basis
#ith a financial "rant fro& 7N1.C/ in 1?th .epte&ber 1<?<.
The &a$eshift st%dio at *$ash'ani Bha'an in Ne# Delhi #as chosen for location of the
e+peri&ent. The e+peri&ent started #ith oneho%r pro"ra&) broadcast t#ice a #ee$) on
co&&%nity health) citi(en ri"hts) ed%cation and traffic sense etc. *s far as ne#s is
concerned) it #as la%nched e+actly si+ years after the inception of tele'ision
broadcastin". Daily oneho%r pro"ra& #ith a ne#s b%lletin #as ser'ed to the ,ndian
'ie#ers. B%t one &a4or dra#bac$ of tele'ision #as that yo% co%ld not en4oy the ori"inal
colo%r of the ob4ects beca%se of blac$ and #hite trans&ission.
0irst &%lticolor pro"ra&&e #as the Pri&e MinisterBs address to the nation fro& Red
0ort in Delhi on ,ndiaBs 5?th ,ndependence Day. ,n the sa&e day) DD National channel
#as la%nched.
The ai& of la%nchin" the National channel is n%rt%rin" national inte"ration) and
inc%lcatin" a sense of pride in ,ndians. ,ndian 'ie#ers also en4oyed the colored 'ersion of
the *sian Ga&es hosted by Ne# Delhi in their dra#in" roo&. The co'era"e of &a4or
e'ents and different occasions lend a bi" hand behind the infiltration of tele'ision si"nals
to the noo$ and corners of the s%bcontinent. ,ndian Go'ern&ent had ta$en all possible
steps to e+pand the tele'ision broadcastin" de&o"raphically and "eo"raphically.
,n 1<!5 tele'ision si"nals #ere a'ailable to 4%st 2!K of the pop%lation) this had do%bled
by the end of 1<!? and by 1<<0 o'er <0K of the pop%lation had access to tele'ision
si"nals.
1
,n 1<!:) DD Metro channel #as added to pro'ide an e+cl%si'e entertain&ent for the
%rban 'ie#ers. ,n the be"innin") this channel #as confined to &etropolitan cities. *s a
p%blic broadcaster) Doordarshan presented the ne#s in nat%rali(ed &anner. *ll
contro'ersial iss%es #ere p%shed %nder the carpet. The r%lin" "o'ern&ent had a stron"
hold on the tele'ision broadcastin". Doordarshan ne#s b%lletins #ere %nable to pro'ide
the international ne#s to the national 'ie#ers. /b4ecti'ity had been the first cas%alty as
ne#s #as in'ariably slanted to s%it the party in po#er.
The ne#s #as liberated fro& the confines of the DD ne#sroo& and "ained in ob4ecti'ity
and credibility #hen Ne# Delhi Tele'ision DNDT8E prod%ced UThe =orld This =ee$B in
1<!!. 1'eryone #as #aitin" for the 0riday ni"ht to #atch UThe =orld This =ee$B. This
#as the only ,ndiabased pro"ra&&e) #hich loo$ed o%t at the rest of the #orld. The
=orld This =ee$ #as the best c%rrent affairs pro"ra&&e on the international scenario
and carried "ood st%ff of ne#s) #hich the re"%lar DD ne#s #as failed to carry o%t.
This pro"ra& is ran$ed as one of the co%ntryBs finest and &ost pop%lar tele'ision sho#s.
,n 1<!<) NDT8 prod%ces ,ndiaBs first li'e tele'ised co'era"e of the co%ntryBs "eneral
elections. The critical and co&&ercial s%ccess of the co'era"e sets a ne# standard for
,ndian tele'ision. *fter the G%lf =ar the &edia panora&a has chan"ed fore'er.
Gu&- War / T*e Ca!a&+s!
Post1<<0 satellite tele'ision in ,ndia has beco&e transnational in nat%re. ,t coincided
#ith the entry of &%ltinational co&panies in the ,ndian &ar$ets %nder the Go'ern&ent
policy of pri'ati(ation. ,nternational satellite tele'ision #as introd%ced in ,ndia by CNN
thro%"h its co'era"e of the G%lf =ar in 1<<1. ,n *%"%st 1<<1) Richard -i la%nched .tar
Pl%s) the first satellite channel bea&ed the si"nal to ,ndian s%bcontinent. .%bhash
ChandraBs Ree T8 appeared in /ctober 1<<2. ,t is ,ndiaBs first pri'ately o#ned 3indi
channel to cater the interest of ,ndian 'ie#ers.
1
This i"nition follo#ed by .ony and a little later by do&estic channels s%ch as 1enad%)
*sianet and .%n T8. 1ntertain&ent pro"ra&s had be"%n to occ%py center sta"e in the
or"ani(ationBs pro"ra&&in" strate"ies and ad'ertisin" had co&e to be &ain so%rce of
f%ndin". DoordarshanBs earlier &andate to aid in the process of social and econo&ic
de'elop&ent had clearly been dil%ted.
Doordarshan had faced a stiff co&petition in ne#s and p%blic affairs pro"ra&&in" #ith
international channels li$e BBC and CNN. Doordarshan planned to sell so&e slots for
ne#s pro"ra&&e %nder sponsored cate"ory. ,n 0ebr%ary 1<<?) NDT8 beco&es the
co%ntryBs first pri'ate prod%cer of the national ne#s UNe#s Toni"htB) #hich aired on the
co%ntryBs "o'ern&ento#ned Doordarshan set a ne# land&ar$ for ,ndian tele'ision
beca%se of its onthespot reportin" #ith pertinent 'is%als. ,n the sa&e year) T8 Today
Net#or$ occ%pied a 20 &in%tes slot in DD Metro channel and aired a 3indi and c%rrent
affairs pro"ra&&e U*a4 Ta$B.
This pro"ra&&e beca&e pop%lar for its co&prehensi'e co'era"e and %niA%e style
presentation by -ate .. P. .in"h. the si"n%p &essa"e #as G9e Thi 2habar *a4 Ta$)
,nti(ar. 2i4iye 2al Ta$H. -ar"e n%&ber of 'ie#ers across ,ndia had been #atchin" *a4
Ta$ as a daily habit beca%se of its inno'ati'e style of ne#s presentation.
Besides that Nalini .in"hBs fi'e&in%te fast paced) condensed daily ne#s caps%le
*n$hon De$hi) T8 Today Net#or$Bs B%siness *a4 Ta$ and Ne#strac$ #as aired on the
Metro channel of Doordarshan. This is the period #hen satellite channels concentrated on
entertain&ent pro"ra&&es for their respecti'e channels. Doordarshan #as still r%led the
&ost #anted area Une#sB.
Ma0or P&a+ers
DoordarshanBs &onopoly #as bro$en in 1<<2) #hen pri'ate tele'ision channels
infiltrated into the ,ndian bo%ndaries and entertain the 'ie#ers as &%ch as possible. ,n the
1
be"innin" of 1<<0s) the pri'ate channels offered only entertain&ent pro"ra&&es. The
entertain&ent pro"ra&s incl%de fa&ily dra&a) co&edy serials) children pro"ra&&es)
cartoons) &o'ies) tal$ sho#s) recipe sho#s) &%sical concerts) nonfiction pro"ra&&es
etc. Pri'ate entertain&ent channels added so&e infotain&ent pro"ra&&es to their 0i+ed
Point Charts D0PCE.
2eepin" the de&and of infotain&ent pro"ra&&es in &ind) the &edia ho%ses started to
prod%ce ne#s &a"a(ines) entertain&ent &a"a(ines and ne#s pro"ra&&es for different
channels. ,ndiaBs pre&ier b%siness and cons%&er ne#s broadcaster and a leadin" &edia
content pro'ider) Tele'ision 1i"hteen ,ndia -i&ited DT81!E started ,ndiaBs first e'er
entertain&ent &a"a(ine UThe ,ndia .ho#B on .tar Pl%s in 1<<5.
This e&er"in" &edia po#erho%se pro'ided pri&e ti&e tele'ision content to al&ost all
leadin" satellite channels in ,ndia incl%din" BBC) .tar Pl%s) .ony 1ntertain&ent
Tele'ision) Ree) MT8 and Disco'ery.
*fter The ,ndia .ho#) T81! prod%ced a #ee$ly b%siness ne#s pro"ra& ,ndia B%siness
Report for BBC =orld. ,ndian 'ie#ers had 'ery li&ited options Dli$e p%blic ser'ice
broadcaster Doordarshan) BBC and CNNE for #atchin" the tele'ision ne#s. 0or tele'ised
ne#s) the 'ie#ers had to #atch Dordarshan and so&e international ne#s channels li$e
BBC or CNN. ,n this race to pro'ide &ore ne#s) &ore infor&ation) Ree Tele'ision
4%&ped into the battlefield by la%nchin" the ne#s channel Ree Ne#s in 1<<?.
This Ne#s and c%rrent affairs channel re'ol%tioni(ed the #ay ne#s #as deli'ered to the
'ie#ers. .ince its inception Ree Ne#s has endea'ored to be the fastest to pro'ide ne#s)
#or$in" to#ards a sin"le "oal of .abse Pahle D*l#ays 0irstE. The other ro%ndthecloc$
ne#s channel) the M%rdocho#ned .tar T8 bea&ed its e+cl%si'ely 2:ho%r ne#s
channels) .tar Ne#s in 1<<!.
.tar &ade a contract of fi'e year #ith Prannoy Royo#ned NDT8 DNe# Delhi
Tele'ision Co&panyE to pro'ide ne#s content for this ne#s channel. The %ntirin"
e+ha%sti'e co'era"e of the 2ar"il #ar bet#een ,ndia and Pa$istan "ained &ore p%blicity
1
and attracted &ore 'ie#ers to#ards the electronic channel. This tele'ised conflict also
sets a ne#s bench&ar$ for #arti&e 4o%rnalis&.
D%rin" the 2ar"il #ar) co&&on citi(ens #itnessed ho# their bra'e Ca#ans fo%"ht despite
in hostile conditions and #atched the #ar front li'e by the e+cl%si'ely ne#s channels)
.tarT8 and ReeNe#s. The li'e co'era"e of the battlefield helped to create a e%phoria of
patriotis& a&on" the ,ndian &asses) #hich later facilitated into collectin" h%"e f%nds for
the #elfare of the fa&ilies of 2ar"il &artyrs.
1'ery ne#s pro"ra&&e dra#s the attention of lar"e n%&ber of 'ie#ers b%t 2ar"il #ar
attracts pri'ate broadcasters to in'est &ore &oney in the broadcastin" b%siness by
la%nchin" a ne#s channel. ,n No'e&ber 1<<<) T81! entered into a :<J?1 4oint 'ent%re
#ith CNBC *sia to la%nch CNBC ,ndia.
T81! is the sole pro"ra& pro'ider to CNBC ,ndia) and prod%ces 12 ho%rs of local
content per day on this 2:ho%r satellite channel. *fter the h%"e s%ccess of ne#s
pro"ra&&e U*a4 Ta$B) T8 Today "ro%p la%nched a 2:ho%r 3indi ne#s channel #ith the
sa&e na&e U*a4 Ta$B) in Dece&ber 2000) #hich co'ers ,ndia #ith insi"ht) co%ra"e and
plenty of local fla'o%r. =ithin 11 &onths of its la%nch) *a4 Ta$ e&er"ed as ,ndiaBs
n%&ber one ne#s channel and #as a#arded Best Ne#s Channel a#ard fro& ,ndian
Tele'ision *cade&y *#ards. .o&e &e"a e'ents apart fro& re"%lar interestin" ite&s
Ds%ch as 2andhahar hi4ac$) .epte&ber 11 attac$s) *f"hanistan #ar) attac$ on Parlia&ent)
,raA #ar) Godhra carna"e and riotsE ha'e dri'en %p the 'ie#ership.
*s ti&e passed) NDT8Bs fi'e years contract #ith .tar "ro%p for o%tso%rcin" of ne#s and
related pro"ra&&in" e+pired on March 2005. =ith the e+piry NDT8 forayed into
broadcastin" b%siness by si&%ltaneo%sly la%nchin" t#o 2:ho%r ne#s channelsN NDT8
2:6; > 1n"lish ne#s channel and NDT8 ,ndia > 3indi ne#s channel) #hich tar"ets the
,ndian diaspora across the #orld. Ne#s cra(y ,ndians recei'ed &ore ne#s at faster speed
fro& different channels.
*ny %n%s%al happenin" can be ca%"ht by the tele'ision ca&era any#here for&
Rastrapati Bha#an to bedroo&. The po#er of T8 4o%rnalis& #as beco&e &ore 'isible
1
by the &a4or stin" operations li$e /peration =est 1nd and .ha$ti 2apoor Case. This
style of in'esti"ati'e 4o%rnalis& has bro%"ht abo%t a chan"e in the #ay #e loo$ at ne#s)
a&idst ne# notions of editorial freedo&. T
he #orldBs lar"est fa&ily U.ahara ,ndia Pari'arB la%nched a 2:ho%r national 3indi ne#s
channel) .ahara .a&ay) in March 2!) 2005. ,t is the first e'er citycentric satellite ne#s
channels co'erin" 51 cities in ,ndia #ith their o#n city ne#s b%lletins. 2eepin" the
de&and of ne#s in &ind) the 7nion cabinet appro'ed the proposal to con'ert the DD
Metro to DD ne#s in a &eetin" held on 5 /ctober 2005. ConseA%ent to these decisions)
DDNe#s channel #as la%nched on 5 No'e&ber 2005. 9o% &i"ht ha'e noticed that the
ne#s channels are lan"%a"e specific. B%t DDBs ne#s channel contains the ro%nd the
cloc$ ne#s b%lletins in 3indiP 1n"lish are also telecast t#ice a day on the National
Net#or$ of DD National. U*ap 2i *dalatB fa&e Ra4at .har&a) .ohaib ,lyasi) the &an
behind the hi"hly s%ccessf%l U,ndiaIs Most =antedB and Ta%n Te4pal) editorinchief of
Tehel$a roped to"ether and la%nched a freetoair 3indi ne#s and c%rrent affairs channel
,ndia T8 on May 20) 200:. ,ndian 'ie#ers had &ore e+pectations fro& this channel.
The &%cha#aited ne#s channel hopes to set itself apart fro& the e+istin" ones by settin"
ne# bench&ar$s of responsible 4o%rnalis&. .pea$in" on the occasion of the la%nch) Ra4at
.har&a) chair&an) ,ndia T8) said) G=e ai& to chan"e the #ay broadcast ne#s reportin"
is bein" cond%cted in the co%ntry. ,ndia T8 #ill set ne# bench&ar$s by &aintainin"
international standards of responsible and credible ne#s reportin". =e #ill stay a#ay
fro& "raphic depictions of 'iolence and sensationalis& of ne#s. =e #ill %phold the
'ie#erIs ri"ht to correct infor&ation and their ri"ht to tr%th and 'erity. ,ndia T8 is not
4%st a ne#s channel) it is a &o'e&ent.H
NDT8 as a pioneer in ,ndian tele'ision ne#s) set to create a fresh re'ol%tion in hi"h
A%ality b%siness ne#s #ith the la%nch of NDT8 Profit. NDT8 la%nched this 2:ho%r
b%siness channel on Can%ary 1;th) 200?. There is no sat%ration point in la%nchin" of ne#s
channel) 4%st boo&in" li$e s$y as the li&it. 1ntertain&ent channel to infotain&ent
channel) infotain&ent channel to ne#s channel) ne#s channels to b%siness channel and
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B%siness channel to lots &ore. No# the satellite channels beco&e &ore topicality #ith
international standard.
=hen topicality is tal$ed abo%t) CNBC T81!) the only b%siness channel) contin%es to be
the &edi%& of choice for ,ndiaBs decision &a$ers) affl%ent a%diences across the co%ntry
since 1<<<. ,t has set the pace for the "ro#th in n%&ber of tele'ision channels by
la%nchin" a 2:ho%r cons%&er channel in 3indi called U*#aa(B. This ne#s channel
foc%ses on e&po#erin" cons%&ers on decision&a$in" related to in'est&ent) sa'in" and
spendin". *ll the pro"ra&&es are caterin" to cons%&ers across different #al$s of life)
#hich incl%ded personal financeN 'ariety of &ar$ets incl%din" co&&odity) stoc$s)
sa'in"s etc.N s&all b%sinessesN ed%cation Q career "%idanceN and 'erticals li$e health)
shoppin" etc. *nother ne#s channel #as finally la%nched into the already cl%ttered ne#s
space in ,ndian tele'ision. Ca"ran T8 P't -i&itedIs ne#s channel) Channel ; %plin$ed to
the air on 2; March 200?. The channel has been set %p to cater to the 'ast 3indispea$in"
a%diences) already bein" tar"eted by a sle# of ne#s channels. Channel ; de'eloped e'ery
pro"ra&&e #ith a bid to cater to all types of a%diences and not 4%st predo&inantly &ale
a%diences #ho "et attracted to#ards ne#s channels.
No# ,ndian ne#s broadcasters ha'e co&e to"ether to for& a body Ne#s Broadcasters
*ssociation DNB*E to deal #ith ethical) technical) operational and le"al iss%es facin" the
ne#s channels in ,ndia. Me&bers incl%de T8 Today Net#or$) NDT8) Ti&es Global
broadcastin" Co&pany) T81! Gro%p) Global Broadcast Ne#s) ,ndependent Ne#s
.er'ice and Ree Ne#s -td.
THE YEAR THAT WAS
En(&"s* ne%s c*anne& "n'us!r+
1n"lish ne#s channel &ar$et) %nli$e the sit%ation e+istin" in the 3indi arena) is not abo%t
c%tthroat co&petition and a constant search for ne# and e'er &ore o%tra"eo%s attention
"rabbin" ne#s pe"s. * three player fi"ht for bra""in" ri"hts as #ell as a &ore broadbased
tar"et a%dience allo#s for far "reater Itraditional ne#sI play a&on" the channels.
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* detailed analysis of the 1n"lish ne#s channels %sin" Ta& data D*ll ,ndia) CQ. 1?V) all
day partsE d%rin" the oneyear period be"innin" Can%ary 200; re'eals that there is no
clear leader in the "enre.
*s on 5
rd
.epte&ber) 200; NDT8 #as fo%nd to be the &ost pop%lar 1n"lish ne#s
channel in ,ndia follo#ed by CNN ,BN. Ti&es No# is closely follo#in" the leaders.
200; has seen the n%&ber one position baton chan"in" hands bet#een the three NDT8
2:+;) CNN ,BN and Ti&es No# &ore than. .till) loo$in" at a'era"e ann%al relati'e
shares it is NDT8 2:6; that is ahead by a nose #ith 2<.;? per cent. ,n second spot is
CNN ,BN #ith 2!.? per cent a'era"e ann%al relati'e share) 4%st ahead of Ti&es No#
#hich at 2;.2? per cent.
3o'erin" in a ran"e bet#een 2! and 51 per cent) NDT8 2:6; #as in the top position in
the 0ebr%ary to C%ne period. ,n C%ly*%"%st) #ith 2! and 50 per cent respecti'ely NDT8
2:6; lost the cro#nin" position to CNN,BN. /cc%pyin" 2! per cent in No'e&ber)
NDT8 2:6; had to "i'e a#ay the top place to Ti&es No#. ,t ro%nded off the year
sharin" 2< per cent each #ith Ti&es No# to be in the top place.
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/n the other hand CNN ,BN started the year in the top position #ith 51 per cent b%t
handed o'er the reins to NDT8 2:6; thereafter. Pic$in" %p in the &onths of C%ly and
*%"%st #ith 52 per cent and 50 per cent respecti'ely) the relati'e share of CNN ,BN
started fallin" drastically and hit 2? per cent in No'e&ber and 2! per cent in Dece&ber.
,n ter&s of &ar$et share) tho%"h Ti&es No# has seen so&e hi"hs and lo#s in the year)
yet the 1n"lish ne#s channel has displayed the best pro"ress o'erall of the three. ,n its
second year since la%nch) Ti&es No# has been able to brea$ the t#ochannel shac$le in
the 1n"lish ne#s "enre
,t started the year #ith relati'e share as lo# as 22 per cent. ,t "ained in 0ebr%ary to *pril
period to reach 51 per cent b%t started slippin" do#n since then dabblin" bet#een 2? to
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26 percent. ,t hit 51 per cent in No'e&ber and for the first ti&e held the hi"hest position.
1'en tho%"h it fell to 2< per cent in Dece&ber) yet it retained its top place to end the year
on a hi"h note.
Mean#hile) international ne#s channels BBC =orld and CNN ha'e an a'era"e ann%al
relati'e &ar$et share of 1.5 per cent and 1.? per cent respecti'ely. 0or 3indi Ne#s
channel &ar$et leader *a4 Ta$Is 1n"lish siblin" 3eadlines Today tho%"h) the story
contin%es to be that of the stra""ler. =ith an a'era"e ann%al relati'e share of 11.6 per
cent) it had &ana"ed its hi"hest of 1: per cent in No'e&ber. ,t "athered 15 per cent each
in Can%ary) C%ne and *%"%st. ,t has its lo#est of < per cent in May.
H"n'" ne%s c*anne& "n'us!r+
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Ta& data D3.M) CQ. 1?V) all day partsE d%rin" the oneyear period be"innin" Can%ary
200; thro#s %p so&e interestin" insi"hts into the "enre #hile the battle a&on" the
players intensifies
Ref%sin" to b%d"e fro& the top position for the I"oldenI year of 3indi Ne#s channels is
,ndia Today Gro%pIs *a4 Ta$) #ith an ann%al a'era"e of 20.!5 per cent &ar$et share.
Bein" the forer%nner) it has been consistent in its perfor&ance as far as relati'e &ar$et
share. Be"innin" the year #ith 25 per cent in Can%ary) it reached its lo#est in the &onth
of C%ne and Dece&ber #ith a &ar$et share of 1< per cent in both the &onths. ,n C%ne it
#as nec$ to nec$ #ith .tar Ne#s) b%t in the &onth of Dece&ber it had to finally "i'e
#ay as .tar Ne#s too$ o'er pole position.
=ith an ann%al a'era"e of 1!.0! per cent is Ne#s Corp bac$ed Media Content and
Co&&%nication .er'ices DMCC.EIs .tar Ne#s) #hich stands ne+t to *a4 Ta$ in ter&s of
&ar$et share. .tar Ne#s be"an the year #ith 1; per cent &ar$et share in Can%ary. By
&idyear it had pic$ed %p 1< per cent. ,t car'ed a share of 20 per cent each in the &onths
of .epte&ber) and /ctober b%t co%ld not s%rpass *a4 Ta$ in the n%&bers "a&e.
Dece&ber) ho#e'er) #as a "ood &onth for .tar Ne#s as it bro$e *a4 Ta$Is &onopoly by
"ettin" to the top place #ith 20 per cent of the &ar$et share in its $itty.
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Ne+t in the r%n" is ,ndia T8 #ith an ann%al a'era"e of 15.;? per cent. ,ndia T8 had 11
per cent in Can%ary) b%t slipped do#n to < per cent in 0ebr%ary. 0ro& May) ,ndia T8
4oined the race in hi"h spirits #ith its hi"hest "rab of 16 per cent. =hat follo#ed in the
later &onths #as consistence in ter&s of perfor&ance in &ar$et share) dabblin" bet#een
1? to 16 per cent in the last t#o A%arters of the year.
,n 200;) Ree Ne#s #as not steady in the n%&bers "a&e startin" the year #ith 15 per cent
and ended #ith 10 per cent. =ith an ann%al a'era"e of 11.?: per cent) Ree Ne#s had its
best r%ns of 1: per cent in the 0ebr%ary and *pril period.
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,t reached itIs lo#est ebb of < per cent in .epte&ber. Mid.epte&ber) incidentally) #as
also a ti&e #hen the channel #as headless after 3arish Dorais#a&y resi"ned fro& the
C1/Is position) follo#in" #hich MCC. e+ec%ti'e 'icepresident Bar%n Das #as roped
in as C1/.
Global Broadcast Ne#sI ,BN; has an a'era"e ann%al share of 10.? per cent) openin" the
acco%nt #ith < per cent in Can%ary. Tho%"h lo# in its n%&bers) ,BN; has been consistent)
#ith the fi"%res ran"in" bet#een < to 12 per cent &ar$et share.
*&on" the ne#s broadcast &a4ors tho%"h) it is NDT8 ,ndia in partic%lar that #o%ld li$e
to lea'e behind 200; as far as &ar$et share is concerned. ,ts a'era"e for the year a lo#
<.? per cent. ,n Can%ary it #as at 15 per cent) b%t drastically fell fro& C%ne on #hen it
stood at < per cent. ,n an atte&pt to "et &ore eyeballs)
NDT8 ,ndia forayed into fiction by la%nchin" its #ee$ly series Bombay Lawyers in C%ly.
,t "ot only ! per cent each in C%ly and *%"%st) &ana"ed so&e %plift in .epte&ber to < per
cent) b%t slipped bac$ to ! per cent a"ain in No'e&ber and Dece&ber
0or .aharaIs national 3indi ne#s channel .a&ay #ith an ann%al a'era"e &ar$et share of
?.1 per cent) the &onthon&onth fi"%res ha'e ho'ered aro%nd : to 6 per cent.
DD Ne#s on the other hand does not ha'e a s%ccess story to its credit. DD Ne#s has to
be satisfied #ith an ann%al a'era"e of 5.5 per cent of the &ar$et share.
O10ec!"#es O- T*e Researc*-
1. To find o%t the perception of the yo%th abo%t the 1n"lish ne#s channel ind%stry
of today
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2. To deter&ine the $ind of pro"ra&&e preferred by the yo%th broadcasted o'er the
1n"lish ne#s channels e.". Ne#s b%lletins) political inter'ie#s) ne#sbased
disc%ssions) debates) sports disc%ssion) ed%cational pro"ra&&es
5. =hat is the Dri'in" force for ne#s channel choice a&on" yo%th
:. Does the anchorBs de&eanor affect the #ay an 1n"lish Ne#s channel is
percei'edW
?. Does the ne#ness of the channel affect the credibility of ne#s broadcasted for&
yo%thBs perspecti'e
6. *re forei"n ne#s channels percei'ed as &ore reliable and credible than ,ndian
1n"lish ne#s channels
;. *re the ratin"s clai&ed by 'ario%s channels belie'ed to be a%thentic by the
yo%thW
METHODOLOGY USED FOR THE STUDY
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Research is p%rposef%l in'esti"ation of the proble&s. ,t in'ol'es three thin"sJ
1. The i&plicit A%estion posed
2. The e+plicit ans#er posed
5. Collection) analysis Q interaction of the infor&ation of the infor&ation leadin"
fro& A%estion to ans#er. * syste&atic approach is essential in "ood research.
1ach step &%st be planned in a #ay that it leads to the ne+t step.
RESEARCH DESIGN
M%alitati'e research #as done to %nderstand the %nderlyin" reasons) perceptions and
&oti'ations behind the 'ie#ership of 1n"lish ne#s channels
Focus Grou O10ec!"#es
0oc%s "ro%p #ere cond%cted to %nderstand the 1n"lish ne#s channel ind%stry
e+pectations of the yo%th se"&ent) to deter&ine o'erall perceptions of the ne#s channels
and to analy(e $ey factors that &a$e an 1n"lish ne#s channel attracti'e to the yo%th
SAMPLING AND GROUP COMPOSITION

0oc%s "ro%p st%dy consisted of pri&arily t#o "ro%ps di'ided into &ales and fe&ales.
Both "ro%ps had ei"ht &e&bers each. *s the disc%ssion centered on the perception of the
1
yo%th re"ardin" the 1n"lish ne#s channels &ales and fe&ale in the a"e "ro%p of 1650
years #ere ta$en as part of foc%s "ro%p fro& one b%siness school.
Me!*o' An' Proce'ure
Reactions #ere solicited fro& 16 &ana"e&ent st%dents D! &ales and ! fe&alesE #ho are
fa&iliar #ith 1n"lish ne#s channel ind%stry. T#o "ro%ps #ere cond%cted each) each #ith
! respondents. The foc%s "ro%ps #ere cond%cted at the b%ildin" of the instit%te #hose
st%dents #ere part of foc%s "ro%p. .t%dents #ere briefed abo%t the 1n"lish ne#s channel
ind%stry and no other instr%ctions or e+planations #ere "i'en to the yo%th.The data
collection #as %nstr%ct%red and an initial %nderstandin" #as de'eloped.
Summar+ o- !*e F"n'"n(s
1
Perce!"ons re(ar'"n( !*e ne%s c*anne&s "n In'"a
Female respondents perspective
3indi is the basic lan"%a"e in #hich people #ant to #atch ne#s. Therefore as co&pared
to 1n"lish ne#s channel 3indi ne#s channels are belie'ed to ha'e &ore i&pact on the
&asses fro& fe&ale participants. 1n"lish ne#s channels #ere also percei'ed to
concentrate &ore on international ne#s #hereas 3indi ne#s channels are &ore
concerned #ith ne#s in the s%bcontinent by the fe&ale participants
1n"lish ne#s channels &ostly co'er ne#s fro& all the co%ntries #hereas 3indi ne#s
channels co'er ne#s fro& s%bcontinent. 1n"lish ne#s channels are percei'ed to be &ore
bent to#ards broadcastin" b%siness ne#s by the fe&ale participants.
1n"lish ne#s channels are tho%"ht of as pro'idin" ne#s in &ore GstylishH &anner) style
bein" the ne#s readers and the #ay ne#s is presented. ,t is percei'ed by the fe&ale
participants that better analysis of ne#s is done on the 1n"lish ne#s channels and the
"%ests #ho do these analyses are &%ch different fro& those in'ited on the hind ne#s
channels. ,t is also belie'ed that 1n"lish channels are tar"eted at a different se"&ent and
the ne#s bein" broadcasted is &%ch sedate and not as sensationali(ed as is the case #ith
3indi ne#s channels.
Male respondents perspective
Ne#s channels "i'e #hat 'ie#ers de&and fro& it. The &ale particpants belie'ed that
tar"et se"&ent for 1n"lish ne#s channels is co&pletely different fro& 3indi ne#s
channels.
1n"lish ne#s channels ha'e better foc%s on the yo%th. The "ro%p tho%"ht that #ith
increase in the n%&ber of people #ho can read and #rite 1n"lish the 'ie#ership of
1n"lish channels is increasin".
Gro%p tho%"ht that the 3indi ne#s channels concentrate on li&ited local ne#s #hereas
1n"lish ne#s channels co'er a #ider ran"e of topics and donBt sensationali(e the ne#s
the #ay 3indi ne#s channels do.
1
,t #as stron"ly belie'ed that yo%th #atch these 1n"lish ne#s channels to i&pro'e their
co&&%nication s$ills as #ell as to "et $no#led"e and insi"ht into the 'ario%s topics.
,t #as also belie'ed that lan"%a"e of a ne#s channel doesnBt &atter as lon" as content
#as ne#s#orthy. 1n"lish ne#s channel ha'e a better perception than 1n"lish ne#s
channels in that they ne'er e+a""erate an iss%e.
Na!ure o- ro(rams re-erre' on En(&"s* ne%s c*anne&s
Debates pro"ra&s li$e the bi" fi"ht on Ndt' are preferred by &ost of the &e&bers of
fe&ale participants beca%se it pro'ides different point of 'ie#s on the sa&e topic. *nd it
pro'ides an opport%nity to "eneral p%blic to be part of that disc%ssion thro%"h these
pro"ra&s.
Contro'ersial topics #hich are not "enerally disc%ssed openly are also fa'ored by the
fe&ale participants beca%se they pro'ide a platfor& for s%b4ects #hich are a taboo to be
disc%ssed. /ne factor #hich really ca&e o%t of the disc%ssion #as the in'ol'e&ent of
"eneral p%blic in disc%ssions. Those pro"ra&s #hich ha'e hi"h le'el of in'ol'e&ent
fro& "eneral p%blic #ere hi"h on the list bein" &ost fa'ored pro"ra&s. They also
pro'ide a platfor& or people to A%estion the personalities that are present there debatin"
the topic.
The pro"ra&s #hich feat%re ne#s abo%t c%rrent e'ents are also preferred by the fe&ale
participants. The pro"ra&s that ro%nd %p the dayBs ne#s in one ne#s b%lletin are also
preferred by the fe&ale participants beca%se of the ti&e constraint they ha'e.
Political inter'ie#s in #hich e&inent politicians are in'ited to the tal$ sho#s are also
pop%lar beca%se it is belie'ed a&on" the fe&ale participants that once politicians are in
front of ca&era there is no escape and they ha'e to face the &%sic.
Male participants preferred pro"ra&s that pro'ide 'ie#s of the nor&al people especially
yo%th as #ell as e+perts li$eH =e the peopleH on Ndt' beca%se they Gadd 'al%eH to ne#s.
1
Debate pro"ra&s #hich disc%ss contro'ersial topics #ere preferred by the &ale
respondents as #as the case #ith the fe&ale "ro%p beca%se of the sa&e reason that they
"i'e different perspecti'es on an iss%e.
Pro"ra&s sho#casin" ,nter'ie#s #ith ind%stry e+perts and political bi"#i"s li$e de'ils
ad'ocate on Cnnibn are fa'ored by the &ale participants.
Pro"ra&s #hich disc%ss c%rrent e'ents li$e b%d"et and the i&pact they ha'e on people
li'es are also pop%lar a&on" the &ale participants.
1d%cational pro"ra&s #hich "i'e infor&ation on 'ario%s sectors fro& st%dentsB
perspecti'e are the sort of pro"ra&s a yo%n" st%dent #ants to see on an 1n"lish ne#s
channel.
Male participants also li$e ne#s b%lletins that pro'ide i&portant ne#s of the day
#rapped in one sin"le pro"ra& #hich #as also the case #ith fe&ale participants.
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Ma"n Cr"!er"a -or ne%s c*anne& c*o"ce amon( +ou!*
,f a channel is belie'ed to be s%pported by an infl%ential ind%strial "ro%p the tr%st in that
channel ebbs fro& fe&ale participants point of 'ie#. The fe&ale participants tho%"ht that
.ahara sa&ay) a 3indi ne#s channel is bac$ed by a con"lo&erate and it 4%st tries to
broadcast the ne#s and 'ie#s #hich help the con"lo&erateBs o#n ca%se.
,f it is belie'ed that channels is dr%&&in" %p the propa"anda of the factions related to it
#ho and ha'e 'ested interest in the channel then the fe&ale participants feels that channel
is not credible eno%"h and hence be a'oided. 0e&ale participants also belie'e that the
channels #hich s%pport so&e political parties o'er others and #ho try to f%rther their
interest score lo# on credibility.
0e&ale participants belie'e that the channels #hich co'er ne#s #hich is Girrele'antH to
the "eneral people li$e &arria"es of celebrities etc sho%ld be a'oided. This type of ne#s
is seen as #astin" the precio%s ti&e of people.
,f a partic%lar piece of ne#s is s%pported by &ore n%&ber of so%rces both in print and in
broadcast &edia than the channelDsE #hich clai& the opposite to be tr%e are not belie'ed
as &%ch. =ord of &o%th also plays a role in the ne#s channel bein" #atched by the
fe&ale participants.
Di'ersity of ne#s is also one of the criteria %pon #hich fe&ale participants base their
choice of channel.
1n"lish Ne# channel pro'idin" Gfine balanceH in the areas that they co'er for ne#s are
preferred o'er those 1n"lish ne#s channels #hich relay one di&ensional Ne#s.
The li$eability of anchors is also one of the criteria %pon #hich the e&phasis #as laid.
Certainly if anchors fro& a partic%lar channel are li$ed &ore than that ne#s channel has
&ore chances of "rabbin" the eyeballs. The speed #ith #hich i&portant ne#s is
broadcasted also plays a $ey role in decidin" #hich channels to #atch.
0e&ale respondents also belie'ed that channel #hich broadcast ne#s and sho#s that
instills social responsibility and creates a#areness and %nderstandin" of critical iss%es are
fa'ored &%ch &ore than channels #hich do not.
Rele'ance of the ne#s to the 'ie#er also plays a critical role in selectin" the ne#s
channel.
1
The reliability of the ne#s is the &ost i&portant criteria for &ale participants to #atch a
certain 1n"lish ne#s channel. ,f accordin" to the &ale participants a partic%lar reporter is
percei'ed as "oin" thro%"h hardships to brin" ne#s than that reporter is tho%"ht of as
&ore reliable for e+a&ple Bhar$ha d%tt is tr%sted and li$ed by both the &ale and fe&ale
participants beca%se of the #ay she reported the ne#s d%rin" the 2ar"il #ar.
The consistency of the ne#s #as also another $ey factor reco"ni(ed as ha'in" an i&pact
on choice of channel. ,f the channel is percei'ed to "i'e %nbiased and nonpartisan 'ie#
the li$elihood of that channel bein" #atched increases. 2no#led"e and infor&ation
pro'ided by 1n"lish ne#s channels #as a pop%lar the&e r%nnin" thro%"h the &ale
participants as a reason for #atchin" a partic%lar ne#s channels.
Rele'ance and content of the ne#s is also a 'ery i&portant for ne#s channel selection.
Di'ersification of the ne#s #as fo%nd o%t to be an i&portant consideration for &ale
participants li$e the fe&ale participants #ho also laid &%ch e&phasis on the 'ariety of
topics co'ered.
,nterestin"ly fe&ale participants tho%"ht that ne#s channels that instill social
responsibility #o%ld affect their preference for the channels #hereas &ale participants
tho%"ht of no s%ch consideration.
B%t both "ro%ps a"reed that creatin" a#areness and %nderstandin" of the critical iss%e is
i&portant for ne#s channels to "rab the eyeballs.
Cre'"1"&"!+ o- !*e ne%&+ &aunc*e' En(&"s* ne%s c*anne&
0e&ale participants belie'e that it ta$e years for a ne#s channel to b%ild eA%ity and tr%st
and hence a ne#ly la%nched ne#s channel cannot readily be tr%sted #ith the ne#s they
pro'ide e'en if they bac$ed by a tr%sted "ro%p.
The fe&ale participants felt that ne#s has to be confir&ed by established ne#s channels
and after fe# s%ch confir&ations they can start tr%stin" the ne#ly la%nched channel.
0e&ale Participants felt that #ith co&petition bein" so to%"h in the 1n"lish ne#s channel
ind%stry a ne# ne#s channel that is la%nched has to brin" so&ethin" different to the
1
forefront to attract the eyeballs b%t sensationali(in" of the ne#s especially fro& a ne#ly
l%nched ne#s channel sho%ld be a'oided.
Channels can be different in ter&s of anchors or ne#s that they pro'ide.
,f a ne#s channel is bac$ed by the "ro%p #hich is already into &edia li$e Ti&es no#
#hich is a 4oint 'ent%re bet#een ti&es "ro%p and Re%ters than s%ch channels can be
readily tr%sted beca%se they ha'e already established there na&e as bein" pro'iders of
fair and i&partial ne#s.
*s #as the case #ith fe&ale participants) &ale participants also belie'e that ne#s affects
the life of a co&&on &an and has a deep i&pact on the #ays he thin$s. .o a ne#ly
la%nched ne#s channel sho%ld not i&&ediately b%t tr%sted b%t the ne#s sho%ld be
confir&ed fro& &%ltiple so%rces till the ti&e it is not belie'ed to be reliable.
.i&ilarly &ale participants also belie'ed that if the ne#ly la%nched ne#s channel is
"i'in" ne#s #hich is different fro& #hat other channels are broadcastin" than &ore
attention is paid to it.
,f a ne#ly la%nched channel brin"s for#ard a contro'ersy #hich is corroborated late on
then channel is s%""estin" then the reliability of that ne#ly la%nched channel increases.
0or e+a&ple #hen *a4 Ta$ bro%"ht to forefront the Para&4it .in"h .idh% scandal #hich
#as later on 'alidated and it ca%sed the reliability Q credibility of *a4 Ta$ to shoot %p.
,ndia T8 #as A%oted as an e+a&ple. =hen it #as ne#ly la%nched in an effort to %p its
TRPs and "rab the eyeballs it propped itself %p thro%"h a scandal hi"hli"htin" a pop%lar
celebrity and beca%se of this 'ery #ay ,ndia T8 cond%cted itself &ale participants #as
s$eptical abo%t the ne#ly la%nched ne#s channel s bein" tr%sted at once.
/ne s%bte+t that #as also e&inent #ith &ale participants #as of the people associated
#ith the ne#s channel. ,f the people associated #ith ne#ly la%nched ne#s channels are
credible beca%se of pre'io%s association than chances of ne# channel bein" tr%sted
increases.
,n line #ith fe&ale participants &ale participants also belie'e that if the ne#ly la%nched
1n"lish ne#s channel has bac$in" of stron" &edia "ro%p then chances of it bein" tr%sted
increases.
1
Re&"a1"&"!+ o- -ore"(n ne%s c*anne& #"s-2-#"s -ore"(n ne%s
c*anne&s
* lot of different 'ie#s ca&e o%t on the A%estion of reliability and credibility of ,ndian
1n"lish ne#s channels 'is@'is forei"n ne#s channels
8ery fe# fe&ale respondents tho%"ht that the ,ndian 1n"lish ne#s channels are &ore
reliable and credible as co&pared to forei"n ne#s channels beca%se they can relate &%ch
easily #ith ,ndian 1n"lish ne#s channels.
* different perspecti'e a&on" the fe&ale respondents #as that #hen it co&es to
international ne#s forei"n channels are &ore reliable and credible than ,ndian ne#s
channels and #hen it co&es to local ne#s ,ndian 1n"lish channels are better beca%se they
%nderstand the n%ances of ,ndian society and c%lt%re better than forei"n channels.
/thers fe&ale participants tho%"ht that beca%se the forei"n ne#s channels li$e CNN and
BBC cater to a #ider a%dience across the "lobe they are &%ch &ore credible than the
,ndian 1n"lish ne#s channel.
,t #as also belie'ed that they ha'e &ore reso%rces and &ore correspondents #ho are
spread all aro%nd the #orld and are capable of brin"in" &ore reliable ne#s than ,ndian
1n"lish ne#s channels.
.till other fe&ale participants tho%"ht that the nat%re of channels bein" ,ndian or forei"n
doesnBt &atter rather the credibility of the anchor #o%ld &atter. ,f they percei'e anchor
to be belie'able than the reliability and credibility of ne#s deli'ered #o%ld i&pro'e.
,t #as also belie'ed that international channel s#ill pro'ide a different point of 'ie#) it
&ay or &y not be credible eno%"h b%t #o%ld "i'e so&e food for tho%"ht to 'ie#ers.
.o&e male participants belie'ed that for local ne#s ,ndian ne#s channels are &ore
credible and for international ne#s forei"n channels are &ore credible and reliable.
B%t a different perspecti'e #as also thro#n in the rin" #hich s%""ested that beca%se of
a'ailability of reso%rces #ith forei"n ne#s channel and their "lobal presence &a$es the&
&ore reliable.
,t #as felt that beca%se ,ndian channels can be contacted easily thro%"h te+t &essa"es
and telephones they are &ore credible than forei"n ne#s channels.
1
Male participants also belie'ed that they #o%ld li$e to #atch Ne#s related to ,ndia to "et
to $no# ho# people o%tside ,ndia percei'e the co%ntry.
Cross chec$in" of the ne#s across 'ario%s ne#s channels especially non ,ndian channels
is also i&portant to "et a "lobal perspecti'e on the ne#s.
Reach of the correspondents #as correlated #ith their reliability and channels ha'in"
broader reach of correspondents #ere tho%"ht of bein" credible. Therefore for local ne#s
,ndian ne#s channels #ere preferred and for "lobal ne#s forei"n channels. *nother
reason #hy "lobal channels #ere preferred for forei"n ne#s o'er ,ndian 1n"lish ne#s
channels is beca%se of non a'ailability of co%ntry specific ne#s channels.
Male participants belie'ed that ne#s deli'ered by a reno#ned anchor or a host li$e
prannoy roy and Ra4deep .ardesai is &ore credible than nor&al anchors. Those anchors
#ho present #ell are also dee&ed reliable. *lso it #as tho%"h that reno#ned anchors
the&sel'es ha'e their credibility at sta$e so they the&sel'es #o%ld #ant to &a$e s%re the
ne#s they relay is reliable.
Male participants tho%"ht the Gloo$H and presentation s$ills also &atter a lot #hen it
co&es to belie'in" the credibility of the ne#s that is deli'ered.
.e&"e- "n !*e Ra!"n(s o- #ar"ous En(&"s* ne%s c*anne&s
Female participants belie'ed that it is the channel #hich is responsible for the ne#s and
itBs the responsibility of the channel to chec$ the tr%eness of the ne#s. *nchor is 4%st a
person deli'erin" that ne#s.
B%t in case of tal$ sho#s the "ro%p belie'ed that anchor &atters a lot and if anchor
chan"es the channel the a%dience #o%ld li$e to follo# that anchor or the host. Certainly
the ne# pro"ra& hosted on different channel by a reliable host #o%ld aro%se the interest
of the people.
Male participants loo$ for the so%rce #hich has pro'ided the ratin"s. ,n case of
belie'ability of ratin"s if the so%rce is reliable than ratin"s are also tho%"ht of as
belie'able. .The para&eters #hich for& the basis of ratin"s are also loo$ed %pon and
their saliency is deter&ined before for&in" a perception. B%t in the end it is the li$ability
1
and personal rele'ance of the channel and ne#s pro"ra& that &atters rather than the
ratin"s.
1
Recommen'a!"ons
1 The ne#s channels sho%ld try to b%ild brand eA%ity by telecastin"
%nbiased and non partisan ne#s and 'ie#s.
2 1n"lish ne#s Channels sho%ld telecast 'ariety of pro"ra&s co'erin"
different topics and sho%ld try to &a$e the& as interacti'e as possible
#ith the people and especially the yo%th
5 1n"lish ne#s channels sho%ld stay #ay fro& sensationali(in" the
ne#s as they are seen as &ore responsible than 3indi ne#s channels.
: To capt%re the yo%thBs i&a"ination the style and &anner of
presentation sho%ld be 'ery "ood beca%se the yo%th loo$ %p to these
channels to hone their s$ills.
? Channels sho%ld try to create a#areness re"ardin" the critical iss%es
and especially in'ol'e #o&en to raise a#areness abo%t social
proble&s.
6 There sho%ld ne'er be any do%bts abo%t the reliability and credibility
of ne#s fro& a partic%lar ne#s channel. /ther#ise the i&a"e of the
channel can ta$e a beatin".
; Channels sho%ld try to in'est in ne#s anchors and b%ild the& as
brands for the si&ple reason that the ne#s deli'ered by a credible
anchor can brin" in &ore eyeballs and ad'ertently and inad'ertently
participants also confir&ed a lot of faith in reno#ned na&es.
! Channels sho%ld slo#ly try to b%ild brand eA%ity for the&sel'es
beca%se in an effort to "rab the eyeballs they &ay try to sensationali(e
ne#s #hich can potentially do &ore har& than "ood.
1
< ,f the channels #ant to be tr%sted #ith "lobal ne# then they sho%ld
ha'e a #ider net#or$ of correspondents and sho%ld let this fact
$no#n.
1
WE.LIOGRAPHY an' .I.LIOGRAPHY
www.ne!work18online.com/Investor%20Udate%20Q1%20FY%202006-07.doc
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httpJPP###.a"encyfaAs.co&P&ediaP&ediaZne#sletsPMediaP:!<<.ht&l.
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www.ec!an"e#media.com/e#m/ot!ers/anal$sis#%&l$0'.as(
s&d!ans!&ra!e%a.com/2007/0'/s!ream"n(-#"'eos-at-n'!#com-and-!istro$.!tml
www.redi)).com/mone$/2007/se(/1# !# .!tm
1
conclave.di"italtoda$.in/2008/s(onsor-(ro)ile.!tml - **k
httpJPPentertain&ent.in.&sn.co&Pt'Particle.asp+Wcpdoc%&entidX122?:??
httpJPPinho&e.rediff.co&P&oneyP200?PfebP2?ndt'.ht&
httpJPPosdir.co&P&lPc%lt%re.re"ion.india.(est&ediaP20060:P&s"00012.ht&l
Mar$etin" Research *n applied /rientation Naresh 2. Malhotra