Wednesday, July 16, 2008

What's up in 18Land?

Recent high-level changes at CNBC-TV18 have made it rather clear that the channel has decided to become completely and totally market-focussed. Completely markets driven without an iota of anything else. I find this slightly surprising, since they are already the leading markets channel, particularly since I guess day traders relate to them. Their corporate coverage was never half bad, in fact it is very good much of the time. Policy coverage, particularly in telecom is excellent, but the sidelining of senior folks is slightly puzzling to say the least, and some occasionally watchable features are on the chopping block is sources are to be believed. I don't know whether, as some speculate, another channel is on the way for corporate news. I mean, despite whatever I might have said about them, CNBC-TV18 is the best of the lot. I don't know whether this markets focus is because of the impending launch of ET-TV - which if ET is any indication will just be one large 'suggested editorial content' pad for Private Treaties clients. Oh and by the way, one broker friend was laughing about how Private Treaties made a lot of buys at insane valuations during the peak, particularly in online companies with slightly dubious business-models which may turn out to be a waste of newsprint in a couple of years. Quite a cost considering that the Times Group is estimated to spend over Rs 1,000 crores on newsprint in 2008. That could buy you 200 Lok Sabha MP's.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

no speculation, the 'other' channel is very much on. Sweet. Is there so much in the Sensex to justify a 24x7 channel? I mean how much can you have of Udayan, Mitali and the ghastly Lata? Unless they're adding some hotties to the gang?

Also carefully note the content on CNBC nowadays. Each rally is led by "short-covering", 100 points up is "flat", while flat is "down". Naughty, naughty CNBC. You don't have to slant everything you say with what your Bhagwaan says.

Anonymous said...

Hi K!

I'm not really part of the mainstream media but I do keep track of the posts on ur blog...what's happening at the 'X'? No updates...been quite sometime...have a few friends there but would want to read it here....
Keep posting!

Anonymous said...

Udayan is a great anchor but its no secret that philandering is rampant in that organization (and many others I am sure). I wonder to what extent the next round of promotions will be determined by who slept with who when.

Anonymous said...

Hey K, whats the maret view on UTVi? They seem to be off to quite a good start. But coverage during market hours not any different from CNBC except for one show on banking...
But weekend proramming very good...