Breaking News: Live & Exclusive

It was sometime in 1991, when US forces landed in Iraq occupied Kuwait starting the Gulf War. And it was then when for the first time live pictures were beamed into our living rooms courtesy CNN, BBC, Reuters and others thus giving birth to 'Breaking News'. The events and the coverage that followed kept us glued on to our TV sets for days and nights together. While for parents it was international news of importance, for kids like me it was real life 'Top Gun' and 'Commando' playing in front of my eyes.

Over the next decade and half what followed made 'Breaking News' a programme to look forward to - Endeavour disaster, 9/11, Saddam capture etc etc.

This period also saw a slew of channels cropping up on the Indian horizon - general interest, sports, business and news. It all started with election coverage but soon followed the international trend. And then the events which happened during this period also helped - the Mumbai blasts, the riots etc etc. As years went by more channels cropped up. When I was wandering where is the space and what is the difference in identity between one another, was rather surprised to read that over 100 new channels are on the anvil!!! In order to get eyeballs and out to chase TRP the value of 'Breaking News' and the type of news which qualified was gradually 'downgrading'. The kid falling in the tubewell, the floods, the killings and some more riots....once I was appalled that a channel was showing pictures of daughter in laws beating up their father in law!!! With 'Breaking News', 'Live & Exclusive' also became part of the lingo. Soon everything was 'Breaking News'...politicians reaching a venue, meeting starting, even cricket team being announced!!! So much that people were watch the tickers than the channel itself!

Couple of weeks back Mumbai came under siege. When it all started cricket match just got over and almost all channels were beaming 'Breaking News' - India beats England, leads 5-0, when suddenly it all changed. Changed to 'Breaking News' - shooting at various places. Within minutes 'Live & Exclusive' were being beamed. Over the next day and half, what started as some small shooting incident panned out to be the biggest terror attack. All news channels had teams, sometimes bigger than the security forces covering the event live. Channels started boasting of 'Live & Exclusive' news, security forces movement, 'Live & Exclusive' footage etc. Soon promos were being made and aired. The so called advanced channels had to be told that what they are airing is giving away info the terrorists which is when for the first time they said 'we are always concerned and for security reasons we can't air movements' etc. I was just appalled by the coverage. To gather TRPs and mileage the channels went all out. First the whole event was sensationalised so much and then, nobody was spared...everybody coming out of the venue irrespective of who he / she was, people working at the venue, security forces, people rescued, media had a mike thrust in his/ her face.

As the event panned out to more long drawn than expected the channels packaging teams got to work - some had live time meter, couple of them said India at War!, others had SMSes going (as if the hostages are sitting and watching news) and some other had helplines. By this live minute by minute intrusive coverage even people sitting far away and watching in their living rooms were depressed.

Net net when India was under siege, channels were trying to make the most of it using the now popular term 'Breaking News' ...'Live & Exclusive'... While I was writing this blog was watching a programme analysing the news coverage of the recent events in Mumbai. One of the people part of the discussion, an editor with a news channel defended the actions of all the news channels and their coverage and blamed the government for not having proper news relases!!! He doesnt realise or maybe doesnt want to accept that, its only the government which made them realise they are causing more damage atleast immediate..than helping.

So much for 'Breaking News' ...'Live & Exclusive'...

News Channels Back in Business...Big Time!!!

Its been a while since I last wrote on something...During this time a lot of things caught my eyes...things I would definitely write about. But there was one topic which is much more eventful and hence needed to be written about...

Wonder what it is? Any guesses? Does the title give a clue? Well the topic is that of whether Manmohan Singh's government will win the trust vote in less than 48 hours from now!!!! And with this the news channels are back in business...big time. While possibly a large part of the Indian population is interested and clued on to their TV sets, at the same part I would imagine a significant part (including me) is just not bothered....

It all started a bout 10 days or so (pardon my ignorance if its more or less) back when the left parties withdrew support to the Manmohan Singh government. As days passed by the news started getting increasing amount of sound bytes...on TV... in print...And with it the rest of the news started taking the back seat...the murder & robberies...the accidents and the gruesome beatings....

The creative teams across news channels got busy too... Digest this...while am writing this bit this is what is happening across the channels in news genre-
1. News 24: Running a report titled Politics ka playground. Wondering whats new? The channel seems to have spent a decent amount of time (with whatever little knowledge I have about animation & editing) to prepare an animated cricket match where in Manmohan Singh is batting, Advani is bowling and commentary is being given.
The channel just now featured another feature titled Rajniti ya bhojniti...covering the dinner event held by the opposition parties...the reported went on to detail the menu and even asked one of the waiters about the special dishes which were served...exclusive!!!!
2. Star News: Has been running a report titled ECG which showed a graph of the race for majority. In another report rather aptly titled Race with the movie poster showcasing Manmohan Singh, Sonia, Amar Singh, Mayavati etc
3. NDTV 24 x7: Barkha Dutt was seen anchoring a programme titled 1, 2, 3 and counting. Wonder if she isn't tired of doing these programmes....
4. Headlines Today: Running an SMS contest titled 'Number Game' where in viewers are asked to vote on the trust vote. And given this is no ordinary contest the winner gets Rs. 25,000! Wow...isn't that great???? Watch the programme and start sending ur SMS right now!!!
5. IBN 7: Yet another channel, same topic! This time the report is titled Superhit Muqabla which shows a boxing ring with the politicians in a bout!
6. CNN IBN: Rajdeep Sardesai (reminds me of Pranoy Roy...sir where are you????) is back with his situation analysis and predictions... The channel's website (http://www.ibnlive.com/) is running a countdown timer to thetrust vote time.
7. Live India: A rather knowedgeable 8 year girl was in front of the parliament house portesting against what was happening....on how politicians were not bothered about the people and wasting money on politics. This clip stood out....
And while all these programmes were running parallely Breaking News was flashing with the updates on the meetings, dinners, peoples health, horse trading, allegations and counter-allegations...
The topic is so important (or at least that's what media is making it out to be) that even business news channels (with the angle of what will happen to stock market) are keeping track through ticker updating the moves and the score...

I forget which channel but rather interestingly it was playing the track 'Singh is Kinng' The way all the channels had put the clippings together with aptly added tracks reminded me of marriage videos!!!

Basically the Left parties which till a month back were part of the UPA (though pulling out the protest flags for every single reason) pulled out of the ruling coalition thinking that they were not getting their due importance. A bunch of old (and self-proclaimed wise) men seeking advice from older men (Jyoti Basu turned 95 the other day!) who were part of the government were today bad mouthing the government!!!

I wonder what happens on 22nd July...whatever happens the current events have given the creative teams at channels to take a crack on being the most innovative. And that shows!!!!
All for TRPs...what else??? Reminds me of the movie Breaking News....

Mera bharat mahan...
Mere bharat ka politician usse bhi mahan....