He may not look like the typical corporate executive and globe-trotting businessman like his elder brother Subhash Chandra or appear to be as techno-savvy as his laptop-friendly younger brother Jawahar Goel, but don't write off LNG aka Laxmi N Goel, head of news group of Zee Telefilms, as just another promoter's kin throwing his weight around. In private, some of the top professionals working in Zee News and Zee Business channels have admitted that LNG's business and news sense is acute and though he loves to give his colleagues a free run in the day-to-day activities, his criticisms can be scathing at times, which also highlights his understanding of the news medium and the audience that is being targeted.
A seemingly happy-go-lucky person, who sports a smile almost always, LNG is credited with doing what some topnotch professional CEOs in the past had not been able to do --- turn round Zee News' dowdy down market image to one that is contemporaneous without being elitist. And in recent times, Zee News, country's first private sector news channel, has been doing a Salsa with the ratings too; at times even flirting with the top spot.
In this interview with Indiantelevision.com's Manisha Bhattacharjee, LNG holds forth on competition, the evolving news space and the strategy of following no particular strategy to rock the ratings charts.
Excerpts:
How do you foresee the future of Hindi news channel business with so many players crowding the landscape? |
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Today there are eight players in the Hindi news space, with some more in the pipeline. Where does Zee News stand? |
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How do you plan to take on the existing and possible new rivals? |
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Zee News was the first Hindi news channel in India, but over the years it has slipped in position and ratings, especially after Aaj Tak's entry. What are you doing to boost your channel's prospects? |
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So, are you admitting that Zee News channel has low visibility because of low connectivity? |
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What was the strategy that you implemented in gaining prime position amongst the 100-odd channels that an average cable network distributes? |
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Did this convincing of cable ops also involve paying carriage fee? Well, it is a known secret in our industry. Everybody, including the leading news channels, are into paying carriage fee for various reasons. It is a two-way process; one pays a carriage fee and the other accepts it. |
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Do you think this carriage fee problem has gone out of hand for broadcasters? Do cable ops ask Zee News and Zee Business also to pay carriage fee? |
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Was carriage fee a reason for Zee Business, launched some time back, lagging behind and not seen on most networks in the country? |
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So what is the strategy you intend to employ to eliminate the hitches that Zee Business channel is facing? |
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On the programming front, how you see the both Zee News and Zee Business channels faring? That goes the same with Zee Business channel also. Zee Business has Shri 420 Treasure, Bazr Hafte, 101 Ideas, Biz Yatra, Wheelocity, to name a few. |
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What do you think of regional news channels space? Do you see a future for regional news channels? It is said the news market is getting bigger, but ad revenue has not been increasing in the same proportion. Now that is a problem. |
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So does it signify that Zee is not interested in launching a regional news channel even though rivals are getting into that space? |
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Zee News is trying to be different by getting celebrity anchors like former FM Yashwant Sinha and now having former editor of The Times of India, Dilip Padgaonkar, on the channel. Do you really think such gimmicks would boost ratings? |
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One positive for Zee News has been that in the last six months its market share has gone up from 15 to 18 per cent (19 per cent in June-July). What, in your opinion, is the reason for these improved ratings? This, however, does not discount the fact that whenever there is a disaster, natural or man-made, ratings of news channels trek northward. |
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What kind of programmes do you think gives news channel ratings? |
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Talking about Zee news and Zee Business, what according to you are their strengths and weaknesses? What steps are being taken to plug the loopholes? We have a healthy mix of programming and the channel is witnessing an increase in viewership. The business channel has also been designed for the masses. Well, we are still working to solve the connectivity problem, which is the main weakness at the moment. |
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You are constantly mentioning that your channel refrains from adding spice to the news. Can you substantiate it with an illustration? |
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So, are you saying that you take stringent action against your people who breach these basics of journalism? |
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Mushrooming of news channels also brings the threat of poaching. How do you arrest the outflow of talent from your organisation? And, do you think people who are leaving should be tried to be stopped? Suitability and sustainability are the words that can well be associated with Zee News. It has been over a decade that Zee News has been in operation and so it has been with some people too. Their association with the channel has continued. Second, if one or two people are leaving for better pastures, it should not be seen as a threat. However, you will not hear that people have left our organization en masse or in large numbers. |
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A criticism against news channels is that in a hurry to get the news out first, often public sensitivity is not kept in mind. How do you respond to this criticism? Let somebody give me one instance where Zee News has indulged in sensationalism or reported a wrong story and I'll respond then. |
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Recently Mumbai's police commissioner AN Roy said he's upset with news channels' reporting of the Mumbai floods and is actually thinking of demanding regulation of content on news channels. Don't you think that before the government comes and pushes through some law that gives them a licence to censor news, news broadcasters should have a code on how news like Mumbai floods should be handled? |
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The Mumbai police commissioner, however, definitely cannot point out that Zee News has put out wrong reportage, or showed a wrong footage. If the commissioner can well highlight such instances relating to Zee News, I will personally look into the matter? On 9 September, there were heavily rains in Mumbai. The met department anticipated that for the next 48 hours there will be heavy showers. While Zee News informed its viewers about the forecast, it also told viewers after some time that rains had stopped in Mumbai. The news channel is only informing people about the latest developments and providing up-to-date information. I think that should not worry authorities. |
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Zee Telefilms has been dragging its feet for over 18 months on the restructuring of its news operations vis-?-vis foreign investment allowed and government guidelines relating to uplinking from India. Why this indifference to rules and regulations? We are close to giving final touches to the restructuring that will be conveyed to the government very soon. It should suffice to say that only the paperwork remains to be completed. |
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These days broadcasters all over the world are exploring various mode of delivery of content; be it on mobile phones, broadband or on the net. Has the news group of Zee Telefilms thought on enhancing its content delivery mechanism? |