The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Testing time for news channels Out of The Box

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Monday, May 18, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Testing time for news channels Out of The Box

In the limelight: Udaya Bhanu who anchors a reality show in a Telugu channel.

Election fever that gripped channels is finally over. After months of hectic activity that included updates, interviews and studio debates, they will have to start paying attention to a kind of programming that is not solely dependant on political developments in coming days.

While the ones in the business of general entertainment can comfortably slow down their news coverage to get back to their usual cookery and dance shows apart from tearjerkers, the round-the-clock news channels are sure to find the going tough .

In the run-up to the polls, quite a few new channels offering news and current affairs have rolled in and given the competition, it is going to be a tough call in generating the right content that could keep them high on rating chart. This is where perhaps, out of the box ideas and a new outlook that is bereft of ideation that is as old as hills, could swing the balance.

Obsession for gory crime content that is presented in a rather distasteful manner has become a regular feature for many but none tries to package it in a more acceptable way. Stirring dal and curry for cookery shows will be back in place of political jugglery and debates and speeches are to be replaced by song and dance shows. Move out politicians, its time for Udaya Bhanus, Reshmis and Sumas.

T. LALITH SINGH

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Andhra Pradesh