8:57 PM IST 13th may 2003 ESPN:
Westindies had just beaten australia in their final test match chasing a world record total of 418 and the celebrations were on. Lara, the west indian captain and his team members run towards the center. On the other side, Steve waugh, the most successful aussie captain, walks back, dejected.
9:00 PM IST 13th may 2003 NDTV 24X7:
Prannoy roy - the name says it all, appears on screen as usual to present the ’News at nine’. And to the viewers surprise, The news program starts with showing moments of west indian victory and Prannoy roy narrating it.
Why this little incident is of such high importance?
In the present days, where NEWS channels are nothing but boring, where people believe presenting news is an ancient technique of keeping face expressionless and reading the characters running in front of them, where there is a fixed flow of news presentation - headlines->general->bussiness->sports->weather->headlines, NDTV is nothing but a revolution in News channels in India.
NDTV 24X7 was recently lauched along with a hindi channel NDTV india. Though NDTV is new to us as a news broadcaster, it has been in this field for the past fifteen years providing news to DD National and then Star News. It has been only a month since its inauguration but surely it has proven to be something different.
According to my (little) knowledge, there is no other TV channel where the president of the channel itself anchors a program that too a daily program. But this is not the case here. Prannoy roy comes up in his usual charm to present the news at nine pm on weekdays. And its a great treat to watch this news episode.
Whats so special?
Content and presentation
Beyond doubt, absolutely up to date information is delivered. The news program is organized in a very flexible way. No rigid rules. What ever is important to the viewer is given priority.
The way a particular news story is followed and the status reported daily is captivating. In many channels we hear to a breaking news on one day and no traces of it will be seen on the very next day. Here the reporters do very good tracking and the news is followed until it reaches a climax. NO surprise, The viewer is perplexed whether it’s the police or NDTV that is working more on a particular crime case.
Eminent anchors Arnab goswami and Rajdeep sardesai along with Prannoy were spearheading the success of Star news channel until the breakup happened on March 31st and NDTV became a broadcasting company. These two are great journalists and are an integral part of NDTV. The way they shoot out direct questions and make big politicians sweat is simply amazing.
Almost all the news reporters from various places who come up in the middle of the program are well-trained and speak clearly and to the point.
The background score composed by David Lowe keeps us involved. And the music composed by AR Rahman for NDTV india has also become popular. Quite obvious isn’t it?
Technicality
Programming quality is unquestionable. They use PanAmSat’s PAS10 satellite for transmission which has a footprint covering 60% of earth’s land mass and 80% of its population.
NDTV channel is also equipped to do local breakaways to telecast a particular news which is of high importance to the people of one region and is of no interest to the rest.
NDTV is the first indian channel to have its own fleet of helicopters to carry its reporters.
Though I am able to follow only evening episodes, I am sure the remaining programs will also be of the same level.
So guys, If you haven’t watched NDTV 24X7 yet. Do it now. Esp. don’t miss Prannoy at 9PM.
Listening to news was never better and was never more fun.