MUMBAI: The art of communicating simple yet hard-hitting information sometimes termed as journalism for arming and guarding people at large, which seemed to have lost its significance in the cacophony of television channels, brand heralds, entertainment and event noises, may gradually gain importance if the idealistic Arnab and the likes were to succeed.
One more crucial addition to the profession of news publication is the unique channel, Patrika TV Rajasthan, which assures to be non-political, non-agenda, non-entertainment, serious and responsible news channel from the legendary house of print journalism.
The Patrika group has now forayed into TV news channel by launching a free-to-air Hindi news channel Patrika TV Rajasthan. The channel started airing on 5 April, thus joining the likes of Times and ABP groups.
The news channel by just-turned-multimedia group is being led by Rajasthan Patrika group vice-president B R Singh and group deputy editor Bhuvnesh Jain, who will oversee content as well. The group believes in trusting their own people, and therefore, instead of hiring people from the market, they recast their internal team for television roles.
The channel is available in HD feed and will air news content from 6am to 11pm. The programming content of the channel caters to news from all genres, such as -- politics, socio-cultural, environment, business and markets, sports, youth and women-centric issues, music, culture, art and other special events.
A standard day for the news channel starts with Dharam Karam, a show based on spirituality followed by Sehat aur Zindagi at 6:30 am, and then news updates from Rajasthan at 7am. The channel has lined up some interesting segments such as 'She News' aired at 11.30am, which will take up women-centric issues. 'She Leads' at 4pm will focus on women leaders.
Patrika primetime, a debate on the latest issues, is also a part of the bouquet. Sports news will be aired at 7pm, and at 10:30 pm, Primetime 2 will be telecast -- it will have discussion on important issues.
At present, the channel is available on two DTH platforms, Tata Sky and Airtel Digital TV. “We are in talks with other players as well. We will also be taking the channel on major cable operators as well as local. We are in talks with Den and Hathway,” BR Singh told www.indiantelevision.com.
Singh said, “Patrika group is known for its idealistic journalism and credibility. We are not here to compete with anyone. We are known for value journalism, and with this ideology, we have launched the news channel.”
The news channel is also accessible on mobile phones. Singh informed that the network has 2000 reporters and experts spread across the country. The reporters can capture the news on their mobile devices and through CCMS software they can transfer the file to the broadcast centre at a much faster than standard time.
A component content management system (CCMS) is a content management system that manages content at a granular level (component) rather than at the document level. Each component represents a single topic, concept or asset (for example an image, table, product description, a procedure).
Generally, when a channel is launched, the first question that comes to one's mind is about investment. Here, the case seems to be different.
The channel is following an economic model, and how. Patrika Group seems to have designed a unique cost-efficient format.
The group has skipped investing in a massive infrastructure generally required to establish a new channel. They already own huge office space and a significant cost saving has been done by utilising internal resources in terms of staff.
The cost of setting up studios, investing in cameras and allied equipment has been curtailed since the new model uses CCMS. Patrika TV Rajasthan is now out to capture the television universe through its no-frills model.
A pen is definitely mightier than the sword. Whether a branded, expensive or fancy pen is important or the thought, conviction and resolve behind the draft is significant, time will tell.
