For the festive season, India TV is introducing Diwali Dhamaaka – “Fakir-e-Azam”, a comedy show, that promises relief from all the tension around. Set in the Pakistani Prime Minister’s office Fakir-E-Azam is a political satire that focuses on the day-to-day struggles of the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, that faces in his office.
Notes a communique: “The show follows Imran Khan, as he goes about his daily routine, calling heads of various countries trying to get his agenda across, but no one seems to take him seriously, instead they make fun of him, threaten him and humiliate him, the situation reaches a point where he gets frustrated and ends up making fun of himself,” adding: “Imran is often seen mumbling to himself that no one listens to him, as most people he calls keep the phone down without listening to what he has to say…The show Fakir-e-Azam tries to be as current to the situation in Pakistan, but also touches topics that have been permanent fixture of the countries landscape, terrorism and Kashmir. Renowned voiceover and character artist Vishwas Kapoor creates some hilarious moments to this show as he plays the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
So here’s another take-off on our favourite nursery rhyme, partly courtesy a friend and fellow-columnist. But before you look at the graphs: here’s an exercise.
Fill in the Blank:
The News Channels genre is getting _______.
Since you have to putting the answer in your own language, choose whatever word you would like.
The numbers tell the story.
Here they are:
Please click on image if you find this unclear
If you prefer graphs, look at these:
May we alert you that these numbers are not validated from BARC. They have come in from two different sources. But we will update if necessary, when we’ve got it from BARC. Btw, we chose 2+ and not 15+/22+ AB one mn plus or all-India, because it was easier to compare with GECs.
The message is clear. News channels – in Hindi, Regional, English and Hindi Regionals (like MP, Bihar etc) need to do some soul-searching.
If they continue to fight, if they continue to not do the right things, there’s bound to be trouble. For themselves.
News channels owners, editors and managers need to stop fighting. The best of political and corporate forces have buried their differences. Many moons ago, India TV had exited the News Broadcasters Association for reasons that are best not recalled now. More recently TV9 quit the association and we heard of some talks of a possible litigation. So there’s no reason why NBA and NBF can’t combine forces. Call it something else if necessary. Rejig the set of officebearers. But it’s important to have a strong, joint force.
Be competitive. Stop fighting. Let’s stop putting each other’s images on telly. Let’s stop group media entities to participate in a ‘maaro saale ko’ campaign.
We’ve seen what’s happened thanks to all of this. It could only get worse. Serious.
Advertisers have not yet said goodbye, but if they see lower ratings, they could.
Enough said. Have a good weekend.
And this Dassera, Dussehra or however you spell it, let’s kill the (d)evils within us.
It’s raining appointment news at India TV. The network has appointed Prakash Natarajan as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to take charge of the channel’s news broadcast operations. Before India TV, he was working as Vice President, Tech and Operations with Network18 Pvt Ltd. This is Natarajan’s second stint with India TV.
Said Ritu Dhawan, Managing Director, India TV: “I am happy to welcome back Prakash Natarajan. At India TV we like to be one up in technology and Prakash is someone who keeps himself updated with the latest releases in television technology, I am sure in his new role, Prakash will be able to take India TV’s technological advancement to the next level.”
On his new appointment, Natarajan added: “Feeling elated to be back home! Experience gained in my previous organisation of managing multiple channels spread across the country will come handy in achieving many technological goals and plans at India TV.”
India TV has announced the appointment of Ajay Kumar as Consulting Editor, Anand Pandey as Editor- Research and Planning and Jaya Prakash Singh has joined as Chief of Bureau, Mumbai.
Ritu Dhawan
Commenting on the new appointments, India TV Managing Director Ritu Dhawan said: “For television viewers among various TG groups, India TV has become synonymous with ‘television news’ during the current Covid-19 and India-China LAC standoff crisis. The induction of these three experienced professionals will surely work as a stimulus to India TV’s leap to the next big level. I extend my congratulations to the new appointees and wish them success in their new endeavor.”
In all the hullabaloo of weekly television audience ratings, the Prima VU data is also offered by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is often forgotten.
And according to India TV, the channel has been ruling the Hindi news channel domain’s premium viewership category. As per data released last week (April 23), India TV rules with 87 million viewing minutes in the three megacities of Hindi speaking markets, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. India TV also tops the chart in the six mega cities put together with 89 million viewing minutes as per the BARC Prima VU report, notes a communique.
Adds the communique: “Clearly, the data reveal that India TV is the most preferred choice for news in premium homes spread across mega cities in the Hindi speaking market. It enjoys the loyalty of elite TV audience and continues to influence the influential strata of society. In the genre of Hindi news channels, India TV has been topping the charts of Prima VU household data week after week. With a viewership of 514 million viewing minutes during the last 18 weeks, India TV was positioned #1 among all the Hindi news channels, according to BARC Prima VU data collated in the 14th week of the present calendar year.”
Senior political journalist Jayanta Ghoshal has joined India TV as Political Editor, while Prafulla Kumar Mishra has joined as Editor, Guest Relations & Coordination.
Ghoshal has over 35 years experience in political reporting. He started his career as a staff reporter in the Bengali daily Bartaman in 1984 and rose up to the position of National Political Bureau Chief. He joined Ananda Bazar Patrika group as Editor, Delhi in 2002 and worked there till last month.
On the other hand, Mishra has 18 years’ experience in TV journalism. He started his career in Sahara Samay, and worked in Zee News, DD News and Times Now as Chief Programme Coordinator.
Said Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV: “We are proud to have an experienced political journalist like Jayanta Ghoshal in our news channel. I know Jayanta personally since the last several decades and I respect his acumen. I look forward to working with him, particularly since the Lok Sabha elections are on the horizon.†Added Managing Director and CEO Ritu Dhawan: “These new appointments indicate the fresh ground India TV is going to break in its endeavor to become the pioneer of top quality news content. I wish both Ghoshal and Mishra the best in their new roles.”
“You cannot take out mass from ‘mass media’, because then there will be no media left”, said Uday Shankar, President of 21st Century Fox and former chairman and CEO of Star India at “TV Ka Dum”, a daylong conclave organised by India TV in Mumbai last weekend.
Participating in a panel debate with Raj Nayak, COO of Viacom-18 and N P Singh, CEO of Sony Pictures Networks, Shankar said: “Television shows are made to get ratings, because the viewers are the ultimate arbiters. TV shows are not made for private viewing. Whether TV shows, newspapers or films, unless the masses read or watch them, you cannot judge their popularity,” adding: “Ratings are only the output to judge the content that is produced. Ratings is the sum of how many number of people watched a particular show. No astrologer can predict the ratings of a show. Producers are interested only in what viewers would like to watch or know, whether it is horror, comedy or love story.”
Uday Shankar
On the issue of why more and more TV shows based on superstition and horror are being produced, Shankar said: “There are serious TV shows too, like Satyamev Jayate, but to cater to a nation of 125 crore people, you cannot have a single size boot. One has to make shows according to the size of the foot of different types of people.”
Reasoned Shankar: “If a car or bicycle manufacturer can want more and more people to buy vehicles,  then why not a TV producer can want more and more people to watch the show. There is nothing wrong in it.†On naysayers, Shankar said: “Some vested interests, including some politicians, do not like to watch certain TV shows. My answer is: if the people of our country have become more conscious and they are asking questions from those in power, it is not because of consciousness spread by the political class. TV programmes, whether entertainment or news, have spread awareness among the people.”
Raj Nayak
Said Viacom18 COO Raj Nayak: “My question is why do those who raise objections watch TV programmes that are negative? If some TV shows get good numbers it is because they are in demand. But one should also know that people watch shows like Satyamev Jayate, Balika Vadhu, Shakti (on transgenders), Udaan (on bonded labour). These shows entertain and also try to bring about social changes,†adding: “The Star Plus show Saathiya was on women empowerment, and shows like these educate people. Shows are made to care to different tastes of viewers. If more people watch the TV show Naagin, let me say, television did not create Naagin. Already there were four Bollywood films on Naagin.
Nayak added: “Television and cinema reflect what is happening in society, they reflect what people want. Whenever we launch a new show, we never look at the TRP. No channel makes shows after watching TRPs. Shows are made only when there is good content. TRP is only a byproduct. Of course, at the end of day, the channels want TRPs because, after all, we have to run our company.”
NP Singh
And this is what NP Singh, CEO of Sony Pictures Networks, said: “I agree that television is an important medium for creating social impact. Our shows did create a positive impact on society. Kaun Banega Crorepati is a very powerful and successful format, and its success was a given. It is a vehicle to create a positive and social change impact.
We showcased stories of small town people whose work inspire others. That is why we decided that we will show the life journey of KBC participants so that it can inspire viewers.”
Asked by hosts Maniesh Paul and Charul Malik as to why TV shows are pulled off the air abruptly by GEC networks, Shankar replied: ” It’s natural that when viewers do not like a show, it is pulled off the air. What can we do? We are not running an autocratic regime where shows will continue to run by government diktat, even if viewers like it or not. Here you have to respect the wishes of the people. For us, shows are a commercial enterprise. If viewers do not watch the show, how can we sell it (to advertisers)?
As polling day in Gujarat draws closer, the second edition of India TV’s election conclave ‘Chunav Manch’ at Ahmedabad was hosted by India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Rajat Sharma.
In his welcome address, Sharma outlined the performance of the ruling regime, its pre-poll promises, people’s expectations, Prime Minister’s undaunting image etc. while he also highlighted the opposition’s charges ranging from rising unrest among the business class to unemployment issues to questioning the Gujarat model of development.
A few amongst those who participated in different sessions were BJP President Amit Shah, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, BJP MP Kirit Solanki, BJP Leader Jitu Vaghani, Ex Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela, PAAS Leader Hardik Patel, Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly, Arjun Modhwadia, Congress Leaders Sanjay Nirupam and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Added India TV MD Ritu Dhawan: “We are happy because of the huge success of the initiative. But what makes us happier is that we were able to generate top-notch participation and we had a full-house throughout the day. This is especially when we were aware that our competition has been struggling to get in and keeping the audiences at their respective venues.â€
India TV’s election conclave series Chunav Manch held its Gujarat edition on October 15 amidst senior political leaders including BJP President Amit Shah. India TV anchors led by Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma grilled political leaders on the occasion.
Other than Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, Deputy CM Nitin Patel, former CM Shankar Sinh Vaghela, Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia, senior NCP leader Praful Patel and Randeep Surjewala of the Congress were present.
Political activists Jignesh Mevani, Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel were also present along with a host of leaders from across the political spectrum.
Said India TV MD Ritu Dhawan: “We were always sure of the top notch execution, however, while we landed at Ahmedabad we were a bit thoughtful on the participation front. This was because we noticed quite a few empty seats during a similar effort, by our immediate competition a day ago. Thankfully, our effort turned out to be a housefull success with enviable participation…  Being able to keep our audience happy with quality content, however is our biggest success.†she added.
As the Assembly Elections in Gujarat draw closer, India TV Chunav Manch is all set to take place in Ahmedabad on October 15.
India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma and his team will lead the Conclave which is likely to see key national and state leaders like Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, BJP President Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, Former CMs – Anandiben Patel and Shankersinh Vaghela, Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Arjun Modhwadia and political activist Hardik Patel.
Announcing Chunav Manch – Ahmedabad, India TV MD Ritu Dhawan said: “As a leading news channel, our primary responsibility towards our viewers is providing them with rich content together with maintaining a healthy share of original content in our programming mix. We are simply fulfilling our brand promise.â€
The Nawab of Najafgarh is set to start an all new innings for India TV. Yes Virender Sehwag will star in Hindi news channel’s sports show “Cricket Ki Baat†on its expert panel.
Welcoming Sehwag on board, India TV MD Ritu Dhawan said: “We look forward to the fireworks the man is packaged with. We can’t be surer that with him on the panel, we have done the best possible job for our discerning audiences in terms of providing them with lively cricketing opinions.â€
Said Sehwag on beginning of his new innings: “I am delighted to associate with India TV as Cricket Expert. It is everyone’s dream to work for the channel that is led by India’s foremost News Personality Mr. Rajat Sharma. I have always strived to further India’s pride through my Cricket & this wasn’t possible without my fans. I am sure that I will be able to present my viewpoint on the nitty-gritties of the game to each of my fan with utmost honesty. I hope that my innings with India TV will prove to be a very successful and a memorable one.â€
Leading news channel India TV has announceda conclave titled ‘Vande Mataram’ to on how to counter terrorism, its impact on the state and discuss the possible means to counter this threat in the valley with the dramatis personae involved in combating terrorism from across the political, social, strategic and defence spectrum.
Led by Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma, the Conclave will star key decision-makers on the issue. It will be held in New Delhi on August 13. Amongst those expected to be present are Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, J&K CM, Mehbooba Mufti, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Army Chief Gen. B.C. Rawat, Gen. V.K. Singh, Farooq Abdulla, Babul Supriyo, Kumar Vishwas, Mallikarjun Kharge and Swami Ramdev etc.
Announcing the Conclave, Ritu Dhawan, India TV Managing Director said: “The entire country is united in seeking a solution on how do we counter Terrorism that has been a global malaise. While the country’s leadership has been dealing the issue with a visible intent, is there more that can be done? As a leader in the news space, we intend to create a constructive platform for a larger consent on how to counter the issue.†“We believe that if we are able to bring in even a whisker of a positive difference, we have done justice to our responsibility as an influential media company.â€
Notes a communique: “The show follows Imran Khan, as he goes about his daily routine, calling heads of various countries trying to get his agenda across, but no one seems to take him seriously, instead they make fun of him, threaten him and humiliate him, the situation reaches a point where he gets frustrated and ends up making fun of himself,” adding: “Imran is often seen mumbling to himself that no one listens to him, as most people he calls keep the phone down without listening to what he has to say…The show Fakir-e-Azam tries to be as current to the situation in Pakistan, but also touches topics that have been permanent fixture of the countries landscape, terrorism and Kashmir. Renowned voiceover and character artist Vishwas Kapoor creates some hilarious moments to this show as he plays the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.”
“You cannot take out mass from ‘mass media’, because then there will be no media left”, said Uday Shankar, President of 21st Century Fox and former chairman and CEO of Star India at “TV Ka Dum”, a daylong conclave organised by India TV in Mumbai last weekend.
As polling day in Gujarat draws closer, the second edition of India TV’s election conclave ‘Chunav Manch’ at Ahmedabad was hosted by India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Rajat Sharma.
India TV’s election conclave series Chunav Manch held its Gujarat edition on October 15 amidst senior political leaders including BJP President Amit Shah. India TV anchors led by Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma grilled political leaders on the occasion.