How TV Programmes are Fairing in India?

It has been said in recent times that TV is now losing its charms to the Internet and soon TV may become a thing of the past. However, a closer look at the situation tells a different story. It is indeed true that the Internet has become extremely popular and every city has got internet connection now. But there is more to it than this. Avinash Pandey, the COO of ABP News and having worked with Star News earlier, says that TV still has a much wider reach in small towns and villages, where Internet is still not easily accessible. Moreover, in order to use Internet it is necessary to know a fairly good level of English language, which means the Internet user should be fairly well educated. However, TV Channles are broadcasting in every Indian language and education or knowledge of English is not a necessity for watching TV Programmes.

The viewership of TV programmes is still very high, especially of news programmes, panel discussions, serials and sports events. Internet has not been able to make a dent in the popularity of these programmes. Rather, Internet is now a complementary companion to TV programmes because these TV programmes can be streamed live through Internet. Avinash Pandey, who has many years of experience with Star News and ABP News, says that apart from live streaming and web TV, there is the powerful medium of Youtube. Most TV Channels upload their popular shows on Youtube and the viewers get to watch these shows free at their convenience. This greatly increases the following of these TV programmes. Hence, rather than becoming a rival, Internet is actually tuning out to be an ally for TV Programmes and they are becoming more popular because of the Internet.

Apart from this, there is another reason why TV Programmes cannot be overshadowed by the internet. TV provides a medium where motion pictures can be brought alive in a dramatic manner in one’s home. Motion pictures can be and are being uploaded on the Internet as well. However, their appeal is not as dramatic on laptop or an average size desktop or a small tablet as that of the TV Programmes on a large TV screen. This is the advantage that TV has over Internet. The latter will have to use large screen and a large retinue of professionals to make the motion pictures as alive and dramatic as the TVprogrammes, in order to give the TV a serious competition. And if this is done, then Internet will acquire the dimension of a TV Programme. So, it doesn’t make sense to spend so many resources on the Internet, when the TV is already there. Avinash Pandey says that in his days at Star News and now as the COO ofthe ABP News, he doesn’t feel any threat from the Internet and he is very optimistic about TV Programmes’ viewership in India. 

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