MUMBAI: Star News turns three years old this 31 Mrach. Post the divorce with the then content provider New Delhi based NDTV, now turned news broadcaster, the MCCS managed Star News celebrates its third anniversary by launching an interactive service -- Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka.

The service has been designed as a 24-hour viewer feedback number that elicits active viewer participation. With this feedback mechanism, the viewers can call in and express their views, opinions, suggestions or questions on a news story.

In an official statement issued today, this method of eliciting viewer interactivity reinstates Star News' position as the 'people's channel'. The journey of three years for Star News has been studded with commendable achievements and appreciable milestones.

The major breaking stories includes the Mumbai deluge, the Shankaracharya controversy, the exclusive interview of Abu Salem's first wife, Samira Jumani, and the MP (LAD) sting operation, 'Chakravyuvh'.

The channel has moved from strength to strength and has grown to command a significant viewership in the industry. Today, Star News has international footprints in South East Asia, Central Asia, UK, USA and Australia. The channel has set precedents in investigative journalism, lateral programming and unique on-ground properties that have been accepted by the viewers and emulated by competitors.

MCCS CEO and editor Uday Shankar says, "Our journey over the last 3 years has been filled with challenges which we have successfully overcome. And the affection & unstinting support we have received from our viewers & strategic partners makes it a fruitful and memorable one too. Going forward it will be our constant endeavour to live upto their expectations just as we have in the past."

He further added "And on the occasion of our 3rd Anniversary milestone, we are taking our promise to our viewers to the next level by introducing Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka, a first-time viewer interface with the channel where Star News will get to solicit their views, opinions and response on a news story. The objective is to provide the viewer a direct voice on Star News and change the existing scenario by making them an active part of the news. It is one more step in the direction of our commitment of being the people's channel."

The statement informs that the viewer feedback is a vital ingredient of a channel's success and is probably the only means for a channel to gauge acceptability and interest levels among its audiences. With Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka, Star News will provide the viewers a phone number wherein a viewer can call in to voice their ideas, opinion or questions on a news story.

The central idea for the launch of this first of it's kind initiative is to change the current scenario wherein the viewer plays a passive part by just listening/ watching the news, to the viewer being an active participant by giving them a chance to be a part of the news and voice their feelings on the channel.

The viewers can dial 022-5663 0099 to voice their opinions, suggestions, views or questions through Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka.