ITV

Category: News Broadcasting

  • News channels failed to balance between news and bombast

    In times of crisis, news television is the most vital link between the event/happening and the people at large. Many have been been going to town talking about how great the coverage of the news channels was during the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai. I beg to disagree. The reportage by news channels was inept and at times embarrassing. Anchors and editors use their channels to lampoon politicians, and criticise (and rightly so) all and sundry. It is time for TV news professionals to rewind and watch their own performance.

    In this information age, where even terrorism seems to be manufactured for TV, it is judicious to strike a balance between news and bombast
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    Granted, most reporters and anchors are young and inexperienced; the lack of professionalism was evident. News reportage, especially of a cataclysmic event like the Mumbai terror strike, requires adequately trained professional broadcasters. In this information age, where even terrorism seems to be manufactured for TV, it is judicious to strike a balance between news and bombast.

    I was appalled to see PYTs on a business channel which loves to have its women presenters in multicoloured eyeshadow ask the most inane questions. Hindi channels as usual were full of bluster, rhetoric, and the kind of high pitched reporting which they seemed to specialise in their crime shows. Even more seasoned and veteran anchors seemed wanting.

    Sensationalism seemed to be the driving force of most channels, whether Hindi or English. It was as if a hyper-ventilated team on high octane was working on a new Bollywood blockbuster based on terror.

    Every report the reporters filed was being made out to be cathartic. They have to understand that there is no exclusivity at times like this. On one channel I heard a well-dressed editor claiming 40 times that he had the exclusive story, about the dastardly terrorists.

    People had been brutally murdered. Where was the propriety that the occasion demanded? Where was the sobriety?

    TV news channels have trivialised politics and reportage on politics. The terrorist strike in Mumbai gave them a chance to correct that. And sad to say, they did not rise to the occasion
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    Having many cameras on the scene is not news television journalism. Reporters who looked jaded, tired and asked the most inane questions don‘t make for good news journalism. Even the empathy seemed synthetic and the unruly way which reporters and camera persons jostled to grab a morsel of news was despicable.

    What was also sad was the way some of the studio anchors were proselytising.You have to report. You have to analyse. Not pontificate. The studio guests were relics of the past. Please get rid of them. In this situation, you needed counter insurgency experts, psychologists, thought leaders to go beyond the news. I am tired of seeing the obsession of news channels with the page 3 crowd who seem to crop up with alacrity, no matter what the situation. These “quote-hangers” need to be mothballed as quickly as the vote hungry politicos who kept popping up on our screens.

    The TV news channels have trivialised politics and reportage on politics. The terrorist strike in Mumbai gave them a chance to correct that. And sad to say, they did not rise to the occasion. While one can compliment the long hours and trauma which the reporters and crews put in, the absence of adequate preparedness showed. We have seen on television several individuals, institutions, and ideologies being ripped apart.

    It‘s time for broadcast news professionals to pause and think about their own inadequacies. Hopefully, they will take corrective action in the days ahead.

    (Amit Khanna is chairman of Reliance Big Entertainment)

  • Terror strike: News channels asked to delay live telecast

    Terror strike: News channels asked to delay live telecast

    MUMBAI: The news channels, which were boasting of fast and latest footage of terror attacks in Mumbai, were finally asked to discontinue live reportage, following the fear of security threat.

    Agreeing to the request of the securities agencies, the channels agreed to delay live telecast. Reportedly, the agencies had asked news channels to stop their live coverage of the terrorist activities and rescue operations fearing that the terrorists may get information about their movements.

    The news channels, which were on wild run since late night of 26 November, immediately accepted to the request of the agencies.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra government had issued notification to the cable operators on Thursday night, prohibiting transmission of news channels. “We received notification from the state government,” says a cable operator. “We were asked to shut off news channels, and we had to blackout news channels for a brief period.”

    A senior executive of a leading news channel confirmed of the development. “There was disruption in the signals in morning as cable operators blacked us out. The issue was resolved in minutes and we are back.” 

  • TV channels to face action for showing political ads after deadline

    TV channels to face action for showing political ads after deadline

    MUMBAI: Government has said that it will take action against television channels which are playing political advertisements despite campaigning coming to an end on 27 November.

    ‘We are starting the process of taking action against television channels. We will soon be sending notices to them and action would be taken against them,” the IANS report quoted Delhi chief electoral officer Satbir Silas Bedi as saying.

    Officials decided to take action against television channels when they noticed that many of them were airing ads of political parties even after the deadline for poll campaigning in Delhi was over at 5 pm on Thursday.

    Elections for the Delhi assembly will take place on 29 November.

  • TV18 gets FIPB nod, to invest Rs 600 million in 3 regional biz channels

    TV18 gets FIPB nod, to invest Rs 600 million in 3 regional biz channels

    MUMBAI: Raghav Bahl-promoted TV18 is launching three regional business news channels – CNBC TV18 South, CNBC TV18 Gujarati and CNBC TV18 Channel 3.

    TV18 plans to invest Rs 600 million towards these three channels, a senior executive in the company said. TV18 South will be a business channel in the southern languages while the regional language of Channel 3 is not yet firmed up.

    TV18 has received Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance, but has yet to decide whether to defer the launch because of the economic downturn, the executive added.

    Vijay Television, part of the Star Group, has received FIPB permission to make downstream investment in a company engaged in uplinking a non news current affairs TV channel. Star recently announced a joint venture deal with Jupiter Entertainment Ventures to take majority stake in Asianet. As part of this deal, Vijay TV will come under Star Jupiter, the JV company which will hold stake in Asianet.

    Star India has got the permission to to undertake uplinking and downlinking of channels and transfer of shares to non resident shareholders. There is no fresh inflow of cash.

    However, proposals of Lokmat Newspapers, Mumbai and Dow Jones & Company, USA have been deferred. Lokmat had proposed to induct FDI in a company engaged in print media.

    Besides it had sought permission to convert operating company into an operating cum holding company to make further downstream investment and allotment of additional shares pursuant to the scheme of demerger of the publication business.

  • CNN to launch health show ‘Vital Signs’

    CNN to launch health show ‘Vital Signs’

    MUMBAI: News broadcaster CNN’s chief medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look at the world of medicine in Vital Signs.

    This is a new monthly, half-hour programme on CNN International. From China to Peru and Jerusalem to Japan, Dr. Gupta travels the globe looking for important medical breakthroughs, secrets to aging well, and clues that might solve medical mysteries.

    CNN International senior VP Katherine Green says, “We are excited about this new program and the wealth of knowledge that Dr. Gupta can bring to our viewers regarding the field of medicine and its significance around the world”.

    The first episode which airs on 27 November at 7:30 pm with repeats on 29 November at 1:30 pm and on 30 November at 9:30 am, 2 pm and at 8 pm looks at tuberculosis, one of the world’s most easily transmittable diseases. Dr. Gupta reports from Lima, Peru, a place that has become a surprising success story in the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis.

    Tokyo correspondent Kyung Lah also reports from Okinawa on a very active aging population in their ‘90s and 100’s defying the physical odds of old age. While the 100–year old crowd is healthy, their children are dying younger and at the highest rate anywhere in Japan. Vital Signs goes to find out just why this is.

    Gupta says, “I’m really looking forward to talking to our global viewers about some of the major global health issues that impact us all in our rapidly shrinking world — as well as hearing from viewers about what concerns them most through our interactive Q&A opportunities via CNN.com and NNmobile”.

    Regular segments in the programme that feature Dr. Gupta include ‘Doc Talk’, where he shares the buzz in the medical community; ‘Medical Myth Busters’, where he identifies medical myths that some doctors believe to be true; and ‘On the Frontlines’, where he and a number of CNN contributors report from the field on a specific issue.

  • NDTV lines up special shows to cover elections

    NDTV lines up special shows to cover elections

    MUMBAI: NDTV Networks has lined up special programming to cover state elections. The shows will provide an insight into the relevant issues, gather views and relay the energy and enthusiasm associated with the upcoming elections in six states.

    English news channel NDTV 24X7 will have shows like Campaign Trail, Follow the Leader, Battle Ground. Starting on 17 November at 7 pm on weekdays. Campaign Trail will combine live reports, citizens’ views and aims to get answers from the policy makers.

    Follow the Leader, starting on 18 November, chases some of the biggest contenders in the political arena from sunrise to sunset on campaigning days. The show will telecast every Tuesday and Sunday at 9.30 pm.

    In Battle Ground, Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala will discuss the real story of the elections – who is likely to win and become the next chief minister, what are the issues that will matter and all the news that citizens need to know. The show will air on 26, 28 Nov and 3 December at 9.30 pm.

    Hindi news channel NDTV India will air Agla CM Kaun?, Youngtantra and Jawab Do. Agla CM Kaun? will take a trip to the places that will be affected by the new political scenario.

    Vinod Dua takes on the politicians one-on-one and gets to the grassroots problems of the common man, in an effort to tell both sides of the story. Vinod Dua enables both, the politicians and the common man, to meet face-to-face and talk about the problems and solutions offered.

    The show Youngtantra turns its attention towards the youth of our country and seeks to encapsulate the ideals of the young and the ambitious.

    In Jawab Do, the current state Chief Minister is pitted against the potential CM and public in a fiery debate where he defends his performance in his current term.

  • NewsX launches annual documentary film festival

    NewsX launches annual documentary film festival

    NEW DELHI: NewsX has launched the ‘Annual NewsX documentary film festival’. The documentary film festival will begin in the last week of December in New Delhi. Currently, the event is in the final phase of short-listing process.

    Says NewsX marketing director Gautam Mukerjea, “We intend to extend the recesses of mainline or parallel cinema and offer an enriching and wholesome experience to our audience. The festival will serve as an exchange forum where the audience gets an opportunity to interact with the directors and vice-a-versa. It truly mirrors the spirit of our channel at large.”

    The festival is divided into short and feature documentaries and caters to a select audience that includes the decision makers in every business.

    The grand fiesta will kick off with director to audience tête-à-tête’s on the behind the scenes of the documentaries, followed by a daily showcasing of four to six documentaries.

    The winning documentary will get showcased on NewsX. Film makers can send their entries latest by 30 November.

  • CNN to address local issues in India Means Business

    CNN to address local issues in India Means Business

    MUMBAI: CNN is addressing Indians with local content programming in the week-long show India Means Business that will put the economic fortunes firmly in the spotlight.

    Hosted by CNN’s World Business Today anchor Andrew Stevens live from Mumbai, the show will be from 24 to 28 November.

    CNN is using its India-based team of correspondents to bring reports from around the country. Reports from international destinations including New York, London and Beijing will round up the global focus on India.

    India Means Business will cover a wide rage of topics including India’s retail boom; how the highs and lows of the property market impacts the country’s economy; the fast-paced media industry, the rise of entrepreneurs and how cricket has become a money spinner. The vagaries of the stock exchange and the impetus on infrastructure will also be discussed and analysed. The week further takes a close look at Indian government’s initiatives to upgrade the country’s famously creaky infrastructure and political system to help keep up the pace of growth in an economy second only to China in its dynamism.

    CNN Delhi bureau chief Phillip Turner said, “We are using our three newsgathering centres in India, live programming from around Mumbai and extensive international resources to reveal what drives this unique and diverse economy. The week is perfectly timed to focus on India’s position amidst global economic turmoil as well as spotlight India’s unique business culture”

    India Means Business is co-sponsored by Kirloskar Brothers Ltd, Aditya Birla Group and the Tea Board of India.

  • CNN to look at India’s economy in a week-long special

    CNN to look at India’s economy in a week-long special

    MUMBAI: US broadcaster CNN has announced that it will present all shades of the country’s vibrant economy in a dedicated week-long India Programming that airs from 24 -28 November.

    With the world mired in an ongoing financial crisis, attention is turning more than ever towards India’s robust economic growth. CNN International brings its global viewers a week of in-depth live programming, India Means Business, that puts the country’s economic fortunes firmly in the spotlight.

    Leveraging its three-city strong newsgathering operation in India, combined with CNN’s Asia-Pacific newsgathering resources, India Means Business will examine how the world’s largest democracy is coming of age as a business powerhouse. CNN goes inside the lives and businesses of India’s brightest and most successful entrepreneurs to find out and examine what is driving heir success and failures.

    India Means Business is hosted by CNN’s ‘World Business Today’ anchor Andrew Stevens live from India’s financial capital, Mumbai, while CNN is using its India-based team of correspondents to bring reports from around the country; Sara Sidner in Delhi, Mallika Kapur in Mumbai and Liz Neisloss in Chennai. Reports from international destinations including New York, London and Beijing round up the global focus on India.

    CNN’s New Delhi bureau chief Phillip Turner said, “The title of our week India Means Business says it all. We are using our three newsgathering centres in India, live programming from around Mumbai and extensive international resources to reveal what drives this unique and diverse economy. The week is perfectly timed to focus on India’s position amidst global economic turmoil as well as spotlight India’s unique business culture.”

    ‘India Means Business covers a wide rage of topics including India’s retail boom; how the highs and lows of the property market impacts the country’s economy; the fast-paced media industry, the rise of entrepreneurs and how cricket has become a money spinner. The vagaries of the stock exchange and the impetus on infrastructure will also be discussed and analyzed. The week further takes a close look at Indian government’s initiatives to upgrade the country’s famously creaky infrastructure and political system to help keep up the pace of growth in an economy second only to China in its dynamism.

    CNN’s global audience in more than 200 countries and territories will have anytime access to ‘India Means Business’ through the dedicated microsite www.cnn.com/india that goes live November 14. The site features video of packages and reports, blogs from CNN’s ‘India Means Business’ reporting team and in-depth stories from Time, CNNMoney and Fortune. The site will also provide exclusive content ranging from ‘India’s changing trade relationship’ to ‘India’s role as a growing automotive player’, by former CNN journalist and specialist on Indian economy, Geoff Hiscock.

    The CNN online team also look at the recession-proof business of Mumbai’s famous ‘Dabbawalas’ that has gone online for booking lunches and hears from a unique naked business guru who is CEO of a Chennai fashion company.

    Making this special week interactive, CNN’s viewers from around the world will be invited to submit their stories, photographs and videos capturing their impressions on why ‘India Means Business’ through CNN’s innovative i-Report initiative.

    India Means Business is co-sponsored by Kirloskar Brothers Ltd, Aditya Birla Group and the Tea Board of India.

  • IBN7 to investigate weekly in ‘Tehqiqat’

    IBN7 to investigate weekly in ‘Tehqiqat’

    MUMBAI: IBN7 has launched a weekly investigative show Tehqiqat. Starting 16 November every Sunday at 10 pm, the show will focus on a big event or happening of the week or a special story and tie all the loose ends to draw a final picture.

    Tehqiqat will not only showcase crime related stories, but will also span over a wide range of other themes like crime, politics, violence, social stigma, odd religious practice.

    The show aims at probing deep into these topics and takes a closer look at facts that were either undiscovered or ignored earlier. The show is an attempt to make people aware about unsolved mysteries, common man’s issues, false taboos, wired truth, frenzyness, malpractices, scams, wastage, negligence, miracles, fake gurus and many such traps that people get into.

    Said IBN7 managing editor Ashutosh, “Tehqiqat is an attempt by IBN7 to uncover the truth behind many issues that are affecting the society but seldom get spoken about. The show will put various malpractices of society under the scanner with topics varying from religion, politics to crime and many more”.