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Sahara's young persona infused with
enthusiasm is all set to strike its viewers with its exuberance and
vitality. Sahara Samay National news channel head Arup Ghosh, speaks
to indiantelevision.com about Sahara's election strategy and coverage.
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What sort of preparation has gone into election-related programming?
All our election programming had been thought out much before
the actual event, including the theme that would be stringing the
shows together. It was a conscious decision to make programmes of
shorter duration and fast paced because Sahara national news channel
is targeting the youth. A pre-election survey told us that about
65 per cent of the voters are young and we are targeting them.
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"We
were the only one saying, after conducting a poll, that the
bribery allegation against BJP’s Judeo Singh would not
work against him during the assembly elections, while others
were stating facts to the contrary" |
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Do you sometimes feel betrayed when rivals copy ideas?
I don’t want to get into this controversy, but the fact
is there for everybody to see.(TV’s comic star Sanjay Misra,
who had played the role of Dhartipakad during the assembly elections
on Sahara Samay Rashtriya, a show that was runaway hit, now has
put on a coloured wig to be Harry Voter Ban Gaya Reporter on Aaj
Tak.)
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How much do you believe in these exit and other polls?
Most of our polls in the past had been near the mark. We were
the only one saying, after conducting a poll, that the bribery allegation
against BJP’s Judeo Singh would not work against him during
the assembly elections, while others were stating facts to the contrary.
The election results proved us right. So, in that sense I do believe
in polls because if properly done, they can throw up numbers very
near the truth.
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Do you and some others like Shireen feel hampered because the
team comprises mostly young people?
I’d agree that for most in the team this would be the first
election that they would get involved in. But their youth is not
a disadvantage; rather their exuberance and youth works to our advantage.
Why should we be ashamed
or dissatisfied with youth when as a channel we are young? We too
have gained from their enthusiasm.
Yes, you do a need a solid core team, which we have, and along
with the youngsters, some of who are very bright, it makes for a
great team. However, we do feel a bit of manpower shortage. The
reason being there is a shortage of talent as demand has increased
because in India quite a few news channels went on air almost around
the same time.
This sudden demand has led to a shortage of talent. But for the
elections, we have hired some 100 interns, who are not only being
paid, but could be absorbed here only if they perform well.
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| "We
had been criticized when we were taking in young people, but
today the same people have blossomed and are being wooed by
rival channels" |
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Apart from having a theme for the election coverage, is there
some other initiative that is unique to the general elections?
I don’t know whether you have been following the national
channel or not, but most programmes are of shorter duration and
don’t pontificate. More importantly, lengthy studio-based discussions
are out. Our content is
one of the most diverse. Yes, the medium of TV is also undergoing
a change.
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How involved were you with the logistics of the coverage, including
the technical aspects?
If you have to run a channel successfully, you have to be involved
in almost everything. Though the level of interest may differ. But
the technical aspect is an important part of the whole game plan
and the seniors in the team had been involved from the start.
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Has it happened that inadequate technical support may have marred
a good election programming?
In these elections it hasn’t happened till now. But in
the past, during the assembly elections, things have gone wrong.
Since we had backup, most viewers were not able to spot the glitches.
If you do the drill religiously,
the rest comes easy.
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How do you and others cope with the pressures of work, especially
at times like these when long working hours are needed?
To give you a cricket analogy, the medium of TV --- and big
events --- is like a test cricket match. You have to have stamina
to last out five days, unlike the one-dayers where, may be, so much
of reserves are not needed.
During election time, the level of energy is high and people who
are professionals should adapt (to increased work pressure). Still,
I would agree that TV is a ruthless medium, which has its rewards
too.
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What is the single most important thing that has surfaced during
these elections?
That we are banking on youth. We had been criticized when we
were taking in young people, but today the same people have blossomed
and are being wooed by rival channels. That’s satisfaction
enough.
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