Television in India
Summary
Communication Trends - Television in India
September 3 1997
Key Points - [n.b. to end 1997]
- Two/thirds of urban dwelling people in India have access to TV
- Reach of TV in urban India has risen from 52% to 64% over the past 5 years [to 1997]
By comparison
- Reading of newspapers only went up from 44% to 66% - despite an increase in literacy
- Radio listening fell from 46% to 33%
- DD1 and DD2 are seen in more than 45% of urban homes receiving TV
- Electronic media revolution began in 1991 with satellite TV - immense impact
- 60% of homes in urban and small toen India now have a television
- One-in-three can receive satellite channels - mainly through small scale cable operators
- Example - South Delhi - 15 channels in four languages for six dollars a month
- Main Satellite channels include Star; Star Plus; Zee TV; BBC World TV; Jain and Business India TV
- Sate-run Doodarshan has responded - new programming; new channel and alliance with CNN
- Radio is the loser - 5 years ago equal numbers listened to radio and watched TV - now almost twice as many watch TV as listen to radio
- International radio stations still have large audiences - but no FM re-broadcasting deals are possible
- Expansion of TV has meant extensive poaching of journalists from print media
- Shortage of news cameramen and VT editors
- Revolution continues - may have just begun
Source:
"India's Love Affair with the Box" by Andrew Whitehead, BBC World, for The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association.
Placed on the Communication Initiative site April 15 2002
Last Updated April 01 2004
How useful did you find this page to your work?
