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Tuesday, June 13, 2006

NDTV's Southern Focus

Close of the heals of CNN-IBN’s Simply South, NDTV comes up with an initiative which enables viewers in some of the Southern states to get region specific programming. The common complaint was that the news channels were heavily focused on Mumbai and New Delhi as most of them have big establishments (HQ) there. Rajdeep Sardesai even acknowledged this in an earlier blog post. CNN-IBN made a conscious attempt to woo viewers from the South by having special series like “Eye on Bangalore” and “Tamil Blockbuster”.

The Prannoy Roy-promoted NDTV Ltd can now offer region specific programming with the introduction of opt-out telecast technology.

NDTV 24X7 today announced the launch of Southern Edition, a daily news programme for its viewers in Southern India. Starting 12 June, the viewers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala will be able to watch region specific news and programmes. The southern specific telecast will be extended to Andhra Pradesh soon.

Opt-out telecast allows NDTV 24X7 to air Southern Edition while the rest of the country continues to watch the national telecast.

Southern Edition will air every weekday on NDTV 24x7 at 7:30 pm. On weekends, the channel will bring a bouquet of special programs for the viewers of these states, the statement says.


NDTV has lot of other issues to attend to. It’s website looks more like a public sector website. NDTV site comes across as a poor cousin to the CNN-IBN site.

posted by Kaps at 5:05 PM

5 Comments:

  • and ndtv is almost as stupid as cnn.

    By Blogger I, at 5:50 PM  

  • If people like Alaphia Zoyab are going to be the main players - making half-assed comments with their poor understanding of the south, I am sure it is going to be a pathetic initiative.

    By Blogger dfgfg, at 5:51 PM  

  • @I,
    I don't see NDTV...so can't comment on it :-)

    @RaajK,
    Going by what I have heard / read about NDTV's Chennai bureau, I will definitely agree with u. Good old Jennifer Arul was much better and knowledgeable.

    By Blogger Kaps, at 12:49 AM  

  • its not quite right to talk wrong about ndtv without knowing facts.
    ndtv was a pioneer in english news in india, and they brought about a quality channel. remember, before ndtv, news channels in india were pathetic. even star news, the most popular one (in eng), relied entirely on ndtv productions before ndtv started newly. cnn-ibn is also equally good, but it does not innovate like ndtv. however, cnn-ibn does provide better south coverage than ndtv. its good that both are noticing the south more now. even though, ndtv has become somewhat subdued nowadays, it still innovates and provides better programming variety.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:48 PM  

  • is there a place where NDTV 24x7 southern edition is archived? I would like to see those ones which I missed. Pl. email me at nav_jewel@yahoo.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:55 PM  

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