The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Adding more options to the remote Out of the Box

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Tuesday, Jun 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Adding more options to the remote Out of the Box

–File Photo

More news: Time for hectic activity.

Telugu television is all set to turn more political in coming months. Elections scheduled next year and amid talks on the possibility of early polls will see a bunch of new channels dishing out news and current affairs round the clock, adding more options to the remote.

While Telugu telly presently has main players in the form of TV9, ETV-2, TV5 and NTV along with Gemini keeping viewers updated with happenings not only locally but also across the globe, there is hectic activity from players keen on launching new news channels at an appropriate time.

And for all of them, an appropriate time is just before elections.

From scouting to right recording and transmitting equipment to recruiting manpower, preparations are on. There are few new entrants waiting in the wings to go on air, while some of the established channels serving general entertainment too are warming up to meet deadlines.

Thus, from next three months till the year-end, the scene is expected to metamorphose with competition between existing channels and the newcomers towards keeping viewers riveted.

The calculations of channels base themselves on the premise that once election heat picks up, general entertainment could find itself nudged out a bit from viewers’ attention.

With more focus on fast changing political developments in store, it is assessed that ratings for electoral related coverage will register an upswing.

But then, viewers hardly complain about more browsing options.

T. LALITH SINGH

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