Broadcast media has great potential in a vast country like India. It is the ideal medium for removing illiteracy and distance. Radio and Television were introduced in India for entertainment and education of the general public.
Radio broadcasting commenced in 1927, and was labelled as a suitable and cheap medium to reach a large number of people even in remote regions. Very recently, the opening of FM channels introduced new entertaining programs and highly increased the popularity of Radio, even in the urban areas.
Television made its beginning in the country in September 1959. Thus began the audio-visual era in Indian media. Television initially started for social change, national unity, to uphold high social values and involved the whole community in an open dialogue. Its main aim was to promote special educational programs in 2400 villages in six Indian states. In spite of the noble initiatives of the initial years, television gradually steered away from its goal and started concentrating on mainly entertaining the audience.
Rapid Growth
Since the 1980s, India has witnessed a rapid growth of television broadcasting that has helped shape popular culture and the course of politics. After the broadcast of first television program in 1959, it became popular and proper extension took place only during 1982 Asian Games. Later, keeping in view the need and popularity of television broadcasting, the government took initiative to expand its access to 90% of the population.
The coverage of Gulf War by CNN in 1991 proved to be a turning point for the beginning of a new era in this field. The Indian media reached its zenith with the coming of cable television. Five new channels belonging to the Hong Kong based STAR TV gave Indians a fresh breadth of life. Zee TV was the first private owned Indian channel to broadcast over cable. By 2001-2003, other international channels such as Cartoon Network, Discovery and VH1 came to India. 2003 onwards, the Indian subcontinent saw a boom in the number of news channels.
With the coming of computer and Internet technology, emerged the aspects of web journalism. However it is in its nascent stage and still a long way to go to proclaim as a separate medium just like print, radio and television. Indian media is an epitome of diversity and variety as reflected in the whole identity of Indian tradition and cultural scenario.
No comments:
Post a Comment