[icernet] More news may not be good news for channels

[Arul Selvan]

 From Aaj Tak to NDTV and Sahara to Star, they are all launching news 
channels in the coming months. But experts caution that despite the 
growing appetite for news and news-based programming, there may not be 
room for so many players. Add super-specialisation, low channel loyalty, 
and big viewership only for unpredictable breaking news, and the news 
gets worse.

Over the next few months, news channel launches are expected from NDTV 
(Hindi and English), Aaj Tak (English), Sahara (national and regional), 
the Dhoots (Hindi business), Star and Channel News Asia (English). 
Sahara alone plans to invest about Rs 600 crore, on a national channel 
and six regional channels by June, and up to 30 regional channels. While 
the number of advertisers on TV actually fell in 2001, news channels 
welcomed 200 new advertisers: the number of advertisers went up from 504 
in 2000 to 686 in 2001, according to TAM-AdEx. Last year, news channels 
added 100 advertisers.


Source:
http://www.blonnet.com/2003/01/18/stories/2003011802600100.htm