Booming: Indian Television News Channels

News programs are now a hot commodity and compete for viewers with popular shows telecast on different channels. Every major broadcaster has at least one news channel. Programming software that can be used round-the-clock is the biggest problem when launching a satellite channel. This is why newsgathering for 24-hour news channels is so important. The new electronic channels are attempting to fulfill this task by covering all incidents, regardless of their location, time, and place. These channels have not only changed the way Indian television broadcasts news, but also the format of the news. Doordarshan, which had the Indian newscast monopoly before 1990s turned news programming into a dowdy business. The news is now an essential commodity, just like food, shelter, and cloth. Today’s news bulletins are notable for their objectivity, topicality, glossy editing, and high-quality visuals. News has come a long way since the DD era. Every event is covered by news. This article will discuss some important changes in Indian news broadcasting since the Gulf War.

Indian Television – Flash Back

The current liberalized television environment in India has seen significant changes to Indian television. These changes can be understood by having a brief overview of the journey taken by television channels. It began as an experiment with a grant from UNESCO on 15 September 1959. The experiment was conducted in a makeshift studio at Akashvani Bhavan, New Delhi. The experiment began with a one-hour program that was broadcast twice per week. It covered topics such as community health, citizen rights and education, traffic sense, and traffic sense. It was launched six years after the beginning of television broadcasting. Indian viewers were served a daily one-hour program that included a news bulletin. One major problem with television was the inability to see the original colours of objects due to black and white transmission. The Prime Minister addressed the nation on India’s 35th Independence Day from Red Fort, Delhi. This was the first multi-color program. The DD National channel was also launched that day. Launching the National channel was intended to foster national integration and instill pride in Indians. Indian viewers enjoyed the colored version hosted by New Delhi at their drawing room. Television signals have been infiltrated to every corner of the subcontinent through the coverage of important events and other occasions. The Indian Government had taken every step to increase television broadcasting geographically and demographically. Television signals were only available to 28% of the population in 1983. By 1985, that number had increased to over 90%. To provide exclusive entertainment for urban viewers, DD Metro was created in 1984. This channel was initially restricted to major cities.
Doordarshan, a public broadcaster presented the news in a naturalized way. All controversial topics were covered. Television broadcasting was tightly controlled by the ruling government. The national news bulletins of Doordarshan were not able to deliver the international news to their viewers. As news was slanted in favor of the ruling party, objectivity was the first to be lost. The news was freed from the DD newsroom in 1988 and gained objectivity and credibility with the New Delhi Television (NDTV). Everybody was eagerly awaiting Friday night’s telecast of ‘The World This Week. This was the only India-based program that looked at the rest of world. The World This Week had the best international news programme and was a great source of information. It also covered important news that the regular DD News was unable to provide. This program is considered one of the most popular and best-loved television programs in India. NDTV produced India’s first live televised coverage in 1989 of the country’s general election. This coverage was a huge success in terms of commercial and critical success, setting a new standard in Indian television. The media landscape has changed dramatically since the Gulf War.

Golf War – The Catalyst

Satellite television in India after 1990 has been transnational. This was due to the entry of multinational corporations into Indian markets as a result of the Government’s privatization policy. CNN’s coverage of the Gulf War in 1990 led to international satellite television being introduced to India. Richard Li launched Star Plus in August 1991. This was the first satellite channel to beam the signal to the Indian subcontinent. Subhash Chandra launched Zee TV in October 1992. This is India’s first Hindi channel that is privately owned. The channel was followed shortly by Sony, and then later domestic channels like Eenadu and Asianet. Advertising had become the main source of funding and entertainment programs were taking center stage in the organization’s programming strategies. Doordarshan’s original mandate to support economic and social development has been clearly diluted. Doordarshan was facing stiff competition from international channels such as CNN and BBC in news and public affairs programming. Doordarshan was planning to sell some slots in the sponsored news program. NDTV is the first country-based producer of national news ‘News Tonight. It aired on Doordarshan’s government-owned channel. This was a landmark in Indian television. TV Today Network aired a Hindi-language and current affairs program called ‘Aaj Tak’ in the same time slot on DD Metro channel. The unique presentation style of Late S. P. Singh made this programme popular. We still remember the sign-up message, “Ye Thi Khabar Aaj Tak Intizar.” Kijiye Kal Tak”. Aaj Tak has been viewed by many Indian viewers as a daily habit due to its unique style of news presentation. A five-minute fast-paced, condensed daily news bulletin Ankhon Dekhi was also aired by Nalini Singh on TV Today Network. Metro Channel of Doordarshan also aired Newstrack and Business Aaj Tak. This was the time when satellite channels mainly focused on entertainment programs for their channels. Doordarshan remained the most sought-after area of ‘news’.

Major Players

Doordarshan’s monopoly on television was ended in 1992 when Indian private channels invaded Indian borders to entertain viewers. The private channels were limited to entertainment programming at the start of the 1990s. Entertainment programs include comedy serials, family drama, children programmes and cartoons. Talk shows, recipe shows, music concerts, non-fiction programmes, and movies are all included. Private entertainment channels have added infortainment programs to their Fixed Point Charts. The demand for infotainment programs was in mind when media houses began to produce entertainment magazines, news magazines, and news programmes for different channels. Television Eighteen India Limited (TV18), India’s leading business and consumer news broadcaster, launched India’s first entertainment magazine, ‘The India Show’, on Star Plus in 1993. This media powerhouse was able to provide prime-time television content to nearly all Indian satellite channels, including Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television and Zee. TV18 also produced the weekly India Business Report, a business news program for BBC World. Indian viewers only had a few options for viewing the television news, such as Doordarshan’s public broadcaster and BBC. To view televised news, viewers needed to watch Dordarshan or other international news channels such as BBC and CNN. Zee Television launched Zee News, a news channel, in 1995, to offer more news and more information. Zee News, a news channel that also covers current affairs, revolutionized how news was delivered to viewers. Zee News was founded in 1998 and has strived to be the fastest news channel, achieving one goal: Sabse Pahle (Always First). Star News, a Murdoch-owned news channel, was the other 24-hour news channel. It was broadcast in 1998. Star signed a five-year contract with Prannoy Roy, the owner of NDTV (New Delhi Television Company), to provide news content.
The relentless and exhaustive coverage of Kargil war between India & Pakistan attracted more attention and more viewers to the electronic channel. This wartime conflict was also televised and set a new standard for wartime journalism. Common citizens were able to see how brave Jawans fought in hostile conditions during the Kargil war. They also watched the war front live on the exclusive news channels Star-TV, Zee-News, and Zee-News. Live coverage of the battlefield created a sense of pride among Indian citizens, which eventually led to the collection of huge amounts of money for the welfare of the loved ones of Kargil martyrs. Each news program attracts a large audience, but the Kargil war draws private broadcasters to invest more in broadcasting by creating a news channel. CNBC Asia and TV18 formed a 49:51 joint venture in November 1999 to launch CNBC India. CNBC India’s sole provider of programming, TV18 produces 12 hours per day local content on the 24-hour satellite channel.
TV Today group launched Aaj Tak, a Hindi 24-hour news channel, following the enormous success of the news program. It was launched in December 2000. This news channel, which has the same name as Aaj Tak, covers India with intelligence, courage, and lots of local flavour. Aaj Tak became India’s top news channel within 11 months. It was also awarded the Indian Television Academy Awards Best News Channel award. Apart from regular news items, some mega events (such as Kandhahar hijack and September 11 attacks, attack on Parliament, Afghanistan war, Godhra massacre and riots), have pushed up the viewership. NDTV’s contract for five years with Star group to outsource news and related programming ended on March 2003. NDTV launched two 24-hour news channels simultaneously, NDTV India – Hindi news channel and NDTV 24X7 – English news channel. These news channels target the Indian diaspora around the globe. News-crazy Indians were able to receive more information at a faster pace from various channels. Television cameras can capture any unusual event, from Rastrapati Bhawan’s bedroom to the highest point of the building. Operation West End, Shakti Kapoor Case and other major sting operations have made the power of TV journalism more evident. This type of investigative journalism has influenced the way we view news and introduced new ideas of editorial freedom. Sahara Samay, the 24-hour Hindi news channel launched by the world’s largest family, ‘Sahara India Parivar’, on March 28, 2003. It is the first city-centric satellite news channel covering 31 Indian cities with their own city bulletins. In keeping with the demand for news, the Union cabinet approved a proposal to convert DD Metro into DD news at a meeting that took place on 3 October 2003. DD-News was launched on the 3rd of November 2003 as a result of these decisions. The news channels are not available in all languages. The news channel of DD includes the 24-hour news bulletins in Hindi and English. These news bulletins are also telecast twice a days on the National Network at DD National.
Rajat Sharma of ‘Aap Ki Adalat” fame, Sohaib Illyasi (the man behind the highly successful “India’s Most Wanted”) and Taun Tejpal, editor in chief of Tehelka, teamed up and launched India TV, a Hindi news channel and current affairs channel. It was free to air on May 20, 2004. This channel was highly anticipated by Indian viewers. This much-anticipated news channel hopes to stand out from other channels by setting new standards for responsible journalism. Rajat Sharma, Chairman, India TV said that the launch would bring about a change in broadcast news reporting in India. India TV will continue to set international standards for responsible and credible news reporting by maintaining them. We will not allow the sensationalism and graphic portrayals of violence to be used in our news reporting. We will respect the right of the viewer to accurate information as well as their right to truthfulness and veracity. India TV is more than a news channel. It is a movement. NDTV Profit, a pioneer in Indian TV news, is set to make a new revolution in business news by launching NDTV Profit. This 24-hour channel was launched by NDTV on January 17, 2005.
There is no point at which news channels are saturated. The sky is the limit. Entertainment channel to infotainment channels, infotainment to news channel news channels, news channels to business channel news channel and many more. Satellite channels are now more current and meet international standards. CNBC TV18 is still the most popular news channel in India. It has been the sole business channel since 1999. The launch of a 24-hour Hindi consumer channel called “Awaaz” has set the standard for television channel growth. This news channel empowers consumers to make informed decisions about saving, investing and spending. The programmes cater to people from all walks of life. They include personal finance, stock, savings, and a variety of markets such as commodity, stocks, and other investments. ; small businesses; education and career guidance; verticals such as health, shopping, etc.
A new news channel was launched in the already saturated news space on Indian TV. Jagran TV Pvt Limited’s news channel Channel 7 was up-linked on the 27th March 2005. This channel was created to reach the large Hindi-speaking audience, which is already being covered by many news channels. Channel 7 designed every program with the goal of catering to all audiences, not just men who are attracted to news channels.

Regional Leaders

Doordarshan broadcasts Hindi programmes and other official languages to cater for the Indian audience. It launched a number Regional Language Satellite Channels (DD – 4 to DD – 11 and DD – 13), and telecast programmes into Assamese and Bengali. All terrestrial transmitters within the state relay the Regional channels, as well as additional programs in the Regional Language that are only available through cable operators. Doordarshan’s regional satellite channels broadcast major news programmes with some entertainment programs.
Private regional channels have followed the footsteps of the Big brother Doordarshan. They are not a news channel or an entertainment channel. They claim to be an infotainment channel and are not following the news channels. Private channels broadcast through the state’s dominant languages. Many big players have entered the market due to rising advertising revenues and growing numbers of viewers. ETV, Sun TV and Asianet are some of the major regional media players. Some of the biggest players tried their luck in various states. Zee Marathi has Zee Punjabi, Zee Bangla and Zee Marathi are three of the regional channels on Zee TV. Star Network launched Star Vijay in Tamilnadu, making it one of India’s most popular entertainment channels. ETV Network, which is part of Ramoji Group, has 12 regional infotainment channels. ETV Network is the source for rich entertainment in eight languages. These languages include Telugu and Bangla, Marathi and Kannada, Oriya and Gujarati, as well as Hindi for viewers in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Bihar, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Each channel of ETV Network focuses solely on the unique cultural identity and aspirations of its viewers. Consider the south Indian language Telugu. There are twelve satellite channels that roam the skies with different tastes and flavours. There are three news channels, one music-based channel and the rest are informationtainment channels. Three channels (ETV2, TV 9 or Teja News) are exclusively dedicated to news programs.
Sahara India Pariwar is proud that five news channels are part of the bouquet of Sahara Samay. These channels are: Sahara Samay NCR, Sahara Samay Mumbai, Sahara Samay Bihar & Jharkhand, Sahara Samay Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh, and Sahara Samay Uttar Pradesh & Uttranchal. Sahara Samay in India has gained a loyal following through a variety of National & Regional News Channels. These channels are young and lively channels that target students and women. They also provide hardcore news. Regional news channels cover all aspects of the genre, including lifestyle, fashion and food, shopping and health, fitness, education, and career issues. They also provide user-friendly information about traffic updates, events in cities, train and air times, and other useful information. National news channels can no longer limit their coverage to the national level. Because of stiff competition from regional cannels, they cannot ignore regional news. Regional news channels are entering the market with a strong willpower and an ambition to portray regional issues at national and international levels.

An Insider’s Guide to Getting to Television Advertising

Congratulations!

You are making the first step towards more sales and better profits by investigating the benefits of TV advertising. Television is proving to be a powerful tool for increasing profits for business owners. It’s not just the “deep pockets” crowd. Television advertising is gaining popularity like never before. Some come away bruised and battered. Many are still smiling from ear to ear, though, because they know the secrets of television advertising success on a radio or print budget.

The Golden Rule

Do not let the tail wag your dog. It is important to be in control of your television advertising journey so it pays off.

Does this mean that you must be an expert?

No. You need to understand the business and medium in order to create a television advertising campaign that is cost-effective.

We prepared the “Insider Guide to Crossing Over to TV Advertising… on a Print or Radio Budget.. And Making Plenty Of Profit!”

It’s your GPS for a profitable and affordable TV Advertising experience.

Small business owners have the opportunity to make their sales explode by using television advertising. The lowest rates for television advertising, including commercials and television productions, are ever seen. You can laser target your ideal prospect with specialty channels.

Television can add credibility to your business and you like no other medium.

There is a reason why you see video popping up everywhere. More business owners are realizing that the more senses that you have, the more likely you are to gain access to the most crowded area anywhere: your prospect’s mind.

Do you need more proof? You Tube’s incredible success is proof enough. Video is a popular medium for people to watch.

Isn’t this the time to jump onboard and give it a shot?

These 5 secrets will allow you to harness the power of television advertising for your business.

Secret #1 Have A Clear Unique Selling Message

This is true for all marketing, but especially TV advertising.

Your prospects should have a compelling reason for wanting to learn more about you product or service.

You need to ensure that your commercial is effective in getting your prospect to take the next steps in your sales process, even if it’s a 30- or 60-second commercial.

This is why it’s important to have a clear message.

What is the most important benefit, promise, or solution that you want your prospect take home?

Or, in other words, what is your unique selling point (USP).

You will struggle to differentiate your offer from your competitors if you don’t have one.

Are you unsure how to simplify it to a clear message?

Start by answering these questions:

Why do people buy from your company? Why don’t people buy from you? Give this some thought, and then make a list.
What are the benefits clients get from doing business with your company? People buy for the benefits. What do your products or services do for them?
Is your product or service appealing to the emotional senses? Is it able to provide relief? Your clients should feel proud. Television is the ideal platform to hit your prospect’s emotional hot button.
Which problem are you solving or which need are you fulfilling?

Surveying your clients is another way to get ideas for your USP.

Ask them why they purchased from you. Ask them what problem you solved and why they chose you over other competitors. The answers may surprise you. Different reasons may lead to different purchases.

You want to identify the most popular reason people bought your product or service. Then, you can use that information to craft a compelling selling message that stands out.

Check out your competition. Sometimes, what’s obvious to you and to your competitors isn’t obvious for your potential clients. You can make your mark and stand out from the rest. Let’s take Folgers coffee as an example. They decided years ago to increase their sales. There was always competition. What did they do? They began to promote the fact that Folgers coffee was mountain-grown and had “Mountain Grown stamped” on their coffee cans. Sales exploded. Coffee grown on a mountain had to be exceptional. Right? The majority of coffee grown in mountain regions is what the average coffee drinker didn’t know. Folger’s used this fact to stand out. Your USP will make your TV campaign and marketing more successful.

Secret #2: Know Your Ideal Client

You will have an easier time generating sales leads through your TV ad campaign if you understand who your best prospects and why they choose to buy from you.

It’s almost impossible to make a television commercial that is effective without it.

This knowledge will allow you to craft a script that addresses the needs of your target audience and to present your unique selling proposition.

Your message is powerful and attracts people. Let’s suppose you aren’t sure who your ideal customer is. What is their motivation? How can you find out?

It’s easy to look at your clients. Particularly those that you enjoy working with. What are their commonalities? Are they similar in a few things? It’s possible that you already know your target market but don’t realize.

These are just a few criteria that you can use when defining your niche.

Age – Try to limit the age range of your top prospects
Gender – Who makes the purchase decision for your products and services? It is possible that someone could influence it. It is crucial to understand this information so that you can appeal to the right audience.
Marital status (single, married, divorced)
Household Income. Try to estimate the income of your target client.
Occupation: Are you looking for the best job prospects? * Geographical area. (ex. Toronto, warm climate, residents who live near water).
Lifestyle (professional, conservative, risk-takers)
Size of the company (self-employed professionals and Fortune 500 companies with at least $10 million in sales)
A marketing consultant who is industry-specific (a consultant who focuses solely on single-professionals)
What do your customers do for leisure time? Hobbies? What are your hobbies? What are your favorite pastimes? This will help you to understand the tone and language you should use and what information your target market is looking for.

It will also help you determine the audience to which your TV commercial should be shown in order to maximize sales.

Secret #3: Get involved in the process

Television advertising is a popular medium and small-sized business strategy. Many companies shy away from TV advertising because of the perceived high cost. (Secret #5)

However, there is often another factor that prevents many businesses from experiencing the same success as professionally produced television commercials.

Simply put, it can be daunting for some to make the leap into the world of television advertising.

You write the ad, and the publication prints it. Radio stations play your commercials.

Television is a complex medium that requires many pieces to make a successful campaign. It can also be daunting for people who have never done it before.

For your TV advertising experience, you will need to be a project manager. Are you a specialist? No. However, you will need to have a good understanding of the process so that you can make the most of it.

Here is a checklist to help you understand what elements are essential for a successful TV advertisement campaign.

BudgetMany small and medium-sized businesses do not realize that they could use the money they spend on radio or print advertising campaigns to create a television advertising campaign. We reveal the Secret#5 to help you avoid one of the most hidden costs in TV advertising. Your budget will include both production costs and airtime.
Script- Your script is your ad written in words. This is your main selling message. This script will dictate who says what, how they say it, and what expressions are used. It also determines what’s seen on the screen and who moves when and where. Your commercial will require a script.
TalentThis includes voiceover and on-camera talent. You will pay more for talent that is well-known or in high demand. Many advertisers will choose to hire local talent rather than regional talent in order to get a professional result.
Production Elements- Decide what type of graphics, music, or audio you want.
LengthTV commercial spots typically last 30 seconds. You can also run commercials in increments of 15 seconds and 60 seconds. A “infomercial” can last between 30 and 60 minutes, and is more expensive to produce and run.

Your TV commercial should end with a clear message for the viewer.

“What’s in it to me?”

To answer this question, both you and your prospect should be able to see how your product or service can benefit them.

You are the best person to sell your product.

To get the attention of the viewer, you must give as much information as possible. If you don’t, the viewer will leave and your investment will be wasted.

Last but not least…

Tell the viewer what you want them to do next!

It is amazing how many TV advertisers, including some long-standing veterans, fail to ask viewers to take the next step in the selling process. Are you asking them to visit your website? Call now! Come into your store? They need to be guided to the destination you desire. Let’s now look at one of the most costly mistakes made by television advertisers and offer some tips to help you avoid it.

Secret #4 Be “Marketing Ready” For Your Prospect

Advertising and marketing are a common way for businesses to establish a business relationship with prospects. Television advertising is no different.

A 30 second TV spot won’t answer all your questions.

After your advertisement has been successful, invite your prospect to contact you to find out more about how you can help him/her.

You could be invited to visit your site, call you, or drop by your address.

It is crucial to ensure that your prospect does what you ask them to so that they can move toward a sale.

Many TV advertisers make this mistake and waste their marketing dollars.

Let’s take as an example a visit on your website. Assume your prospect has seen your commercial and was shown the URL of your website after it ended.

He was intrigued by your commercial and wanted to learn more about you and what you offer.

Congratulations. Congratulations! Now you can move on to the next hurdle: getting the prospect to accept your offer.

That’s it.

You’re now ready to move on to the “conversion” phase of the sales process. Your site will not attract tons of people who can’t support your family, pay your mortgage, or allow you to relax on Cabo San Lucas’s beach.

You must convert the prospect’s initial interest into a sale.

A web site that fails to pick up from the television commercial by reminding the visitor “what’s in this for him” and telling your story compellingly is going to stop a sale opportunity.

Is it really worth tempting hungry prospects and then having them arrive at your home with nothing to eat?

The same applies if you wish them to call. Everyone on your team that has public contact needs to be available to maintain the momentum.

Your TV commercial’s job is to catch fish. Your marketing is responsible for the rest.

It is important to ensure that your marketing messages are consistent across all marketing channels. You won’t see the ROI you want.

Secret #5: Don’t let the Tail Wag Your Dog

Television advertising can be lucrative, but it is important to have an experienced guide who can help you navigate the pitfalls and produce a profit. We’ve provided you with all the information you need to ensure your television advertising campaigns are successful. It’s now time to bring the thread that ties everything together. Partnering with industry professionals who are familiar with the subject is a must. Advertising agencies are the first place small and medium-sized businesses turn to for help. This is a costly mistake.

Here’s why: Ad agencies often focus on messaging that is “institutional” or branding. They build image. Although a professional image is important, many businesses that use TV advertising need to make sales. You are probably the same. Your goal is to get viewers to view your commercial and then take the next step in your sales process. Perhaps a visit to your website or a call. Direct response television advertising is required for this. Many advertising agencies are not equipped to handle this task. They don’t know how to convert a potential client into a lifetime client.

Here’s the secret they want you to not learn: Most companies don’t have the resources or staff necessary to create your script. They also have the ability to shoot commercials using television production facilities. They may also have an editing room where you can edit your footage. Let’s see what this means for you. If agencies don’t have enough resources, they must look outside and find industry professionals to help them. Guess who is stuck with all those middlemen mark-ups? This old school mentality of “don’t worry, client will pay for” doesn’t end there. After your commercial has been approved for airing, you will need a TV channel to broadcast it. The ad agency will charge 15% of your media budget for looking up your spot and calling you to schedule it. Are you sure that’s how you want your media dollars to be spent? It’s like having someone gather a group of people to do it for you and then charge you. You might think so. Creative Bube Tube, a full-service one-source expert in direct response television advertising and corporate video productions, offers an alternative. We help small and medium-sized businesses to generate profit. Many of our clients are novices. We’ve helped many new clients.

These are the four pillars on which we have built our business model:

One Source – All aspects of your TV advertising are handled in-house by our staff. This allows you to avoid unnecessary delays, cost-cutting and finger-pointing that can be caused by too many fingers.
Expertise – We’re television advertising experts. It’s all we do. We do it all. We know how to sell. This means that campaigns not only look professional but also send qualified prospects your way.
Cost-Effective – We know what we are doing and how to make it work for you. This ensures that every dollar you spend is increasing your sales. Our media connections over the years give you red carpet access into your target market at a fraction the price you would otherwise pay – and with no hidden fees.
Process – Sales driven creativity, efficient production, planning, and organization are the keys to affordable TV advertising. This requires clear communication. All of our work is done in-house. Your creative is not outsourced to a company without a marketing background. Send the footage from filming to a post production house. Next, hire a media buyer who likely has never seen the creative. You can then relax and watch as the chaos and disorganization consume your budget. Every member of our team is intimately involved in the project, from beginning to finish.

Creative Bube Tube is a television advertising tool that makes TV advertising more effective and efficient. It’s for both newbies as well as long-time TV advertisers who are tired wasting marketing dollars on old-school methods. We’re happy to help you if you have been considering television advertising, but were hesitant to do so because it would be too expensive. Call us at 1-855 BUBETUBE today or visit our website