Indian News Broadcasting

Aberdeen Business School

RESEARCH METHODS BSM577

Research Proposal

THE DYNAMICS, CHALLENGES & PROSPECTS OF INDIAN TELEVISION

Submitted by

Kalyan Priya Dasgupta (0701626)

MSc Management

Date: 25th April 2008

Submitted To:

Dr Seonaidh McDonald

TABLE OF CONTENT

Sr. No. Title Page No.

1 Introduction 3

2 Provisional title 3

3 Statement of the proposal 3

4,5 Aim of the study & Objective 4

6 Literature review 4-15

7 Methodology 15-18

8 Conclusion 18-19

1. INTRODUCTION

In the current liberalized environment that is characterized by information and knowledge base, the media, particularly the satellite television news channels, is a very powerful medium that plays a significant role in shaping public opinions and beliefs, and disseminating correct information and knowledge with a huge responsibility on their shoulders. Such dissemination of news, views, and other information has far-reaching affects on societies, businesses, and governments. At the same time, today, the electronic media attracts the best talent in the country. When talented people work in such an industry, society expects them to act in a more accountable manner and provide it with those news stories that will increase their knowledge, their sources of information, and inspire them to inculcate a feeling of responsibility toward society.

2. PROVISIONAL TITLE

Indian Television News channels are loosing their impulse of providing quality journalism towards its viewers- A research study.

3. STATEMENT OF THE PROPOSAL

There is a myth that the Indian News Channels are loosing their vanguard and thereby becoming Entertainment Channels providing cheap sensationalism in order to gain Television Rating Point/ Revenues & to maintain their sustainability in the overtly crowded Indian satellite broadcasting industry.

4. AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to critically analyse or examine the transition of the Indian satellite news channels from information rich sources to information poor resources.

5. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are:-

• To conduct a survey targeted to non-resident Indians (N.R.I.'s) living in Aberdeen to understand their perceptions on the Indian Satellite Television News channels.

• To examine which Indian TV News channels the N.R.I.'s consider their favourite and whether these TV news channels have been promoting news, views, and other programs related to N.R.I.'s. The basic intention behind this survey is to generate more interest and awareness among British N.R.I.'s toward issues and news originating in their homeland and elsewhere so that they remain well informed about happenings in India.

• To elicit suggestions, and to determine whether the TV news channels need to be regulated in order to make them more accountable to the society.

• To scrutinize the viewers acuity on Indian news broadcasters in compare to other global news provider.

• To examine the potential of new technology (web broadcasting, mobile TV, IPTV etc).

6. RATIONALE/LIERATURE REVIEW

INDIAN TELEVISION-FLASH BACK

Television in India is undergoing significant changes in the current liberalized environment. To understand these changes, one needs to have some brief idea of the road covered by the television channels so far. The journey started as an experimental basis with a financial grant from UNESCO in 15th September 1959. The makeshift studio at Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi was chosen for location of the experiment. The experiment started with one-hour program, broadcast twice a week, on community health, citizen rights, education and traffic sense etc. As far as news is concerned, it was launched exactly six years after the inception of television broadcasting. Daily one-hour program with a news bulletin was served to the Indian viewers. But one major drawback of television was that you could not enjoy the original colour of the objects because of black and white transmission. First multi-colour programme was the Prime Minister’s address to the nation from Red Fort in Delhi on India’s 35th Independence Day. In the same day, DD National channel was launched. The aim of launching the National channel is nurturing national integration, and inculcating a sense of pride in Indians. Indian viewers also enjoyed the coloured version of the Asian Games hosted by New Delhi in their drawing room. The coverage of major events and different occasions lend a big hand behind the infiltration of television signals to the nook and corners of the subcontinent. Indian Government had taken all possible steps to expand the television broadcasting demographically and geographically. In 1983 television signals were available to just 28% of the population, this had doubled by the end of 1985 and by 1990 over 90% of the population had access to television signals (Ezine articles). In 1984, DD Metro channel was added to provide an exclusive entertainment for the urban viewers. In the beginning, this channel was confined to metropolitan cities. As a public broadcaster, Doordarshan presented the news in naturalized manner. All controversial issues were pushed under the carpet. The ruling government had a strong hold on the television broadcasting. Doordarshan news bulletins were unable to provide the international news to the national viewers. Objectivity had been the first casualty as news was invariably slanted to suit the party in power. The news