[icernet] India's Big TV Competition Begins

[Arul Selvan]

In one of the world's most potentially lucrative media markets, five new 
24-hour news channels are joining four other all-news broadcasters this 
month. The arrival of these new players is prompted by the market. News 
channel revenues are growing by 24 percent, according to industry 
estimates, which could take broadcasting revenue from $1 billion to $2.9 
billion by 2007, according to a projection by the consulting firm KPMG.

Viewers in India, a country of more than 1 billion people, have access 
to about 100 channels in various languages, including 16 round-the-clock 
channels beaming in English, the national language Hindi, or several 
regional languages. And millions of expatriate South Asians worldwide 
watch Indian programming on satellite television and the Internet. The 
channels have transformed their technology and look. Hundreds of 
staffers have been hired. New equipment and satellite vans have been 
bought, studios revamped, logos changed.

Some channels have turned into finishing schools. Murdoch's Star News 
ordered reporters and anchors to shave off facial hair. Staffers were 
put through long grooming sessions. Top fashion designers and 
hairstylists are creating new looks for anchors and reporters, some of 
whom have trained at broadcasting school. Some channels bought 
sophisticated digital technology facilities and U.S. and British experts 
held weeks of classes. All the new technology feeds into viewers' 
growing demands for speed.

Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24050-2003Apr14.html

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India's TV news boom
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2947087.stm