Television News in Changing India

The story of TV news in India is intertwined and woven with liberalization of the economy, after more than four decades of Independence. The liberalization coupled with deregulations resulted into end of government monopoly of news broadcast and entry of the private sector. Today India boasts to have more than 200 television news channels, making it world’s largest news broadcasting country. This study is one of pioneering, in depth and penetrating research that throws ample light on the content of Indian TV news channels, highlighting their financial survival, primarily on advertisements. In India, popularity of TV news channels are being measured in terms of Television Rating Points that often decide the revenue any TV channel might receive. Such a compulsion has forced TV channels to select such news content that might attract TRPs and advertisers. Since advertisers conceive India primarily as an urban, middle class market, so most of the channels neglect proper representation and coverage of rural viewers and their issues. This study also conclusively supports the view that instead of newsworthiness, fetching eye balls determines the content of the Indian TV news channels.