|
The
anniversary of the most significant event of last
year "9/11" (11 September) is a few days
away and all the news channels are gearing up for
it. The picture is different though on the non-news
Indian channels which do not see the event as being
part of their priority list. When contacted by indiantelevision.com,
big broadcasters like Star and Zee said that as of
now no specials had been lined up. Contrast this with
the situation in the US with the four blind mice of
American television NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC unveiling
plans over a month in advance.
A Delhi based producer who does news and current affairs
based programming for one of the news channels does
not think that the 9/11 anniversary should be hyped
up by Indian channels as the event is too US-centric.
He says, "Have US channels done much or anything on
Indian disasters' anniversaries? What about tragic
events like the Bhopal gas tragedy? It's also to be
seen what channels like CNN and BBC do on 13 December,
a year after the heinous attack on the Indian parliament
or does it at all find mention in their news bulletins."
That is one argument. The fact is that all the news
channels are keyed up and ready to go as far as the
event is concerned. As far as the "purely Indian"
channels are concerned, both 24-hour Hindi news channels
Zee News and Aaj Tak are putting together programming
for the day. The focus for Aaj Tak will be on how
life as changed one year after the attack on America.
Zee News has 50 special packages planned.
Star News, for which NDTV provides content, is covering
9/11 through a feed from promoter Rupert Murdoch's
Fox Network while CNBC India will get its from the
parent NBC Network.
While not many ads are expected to be seen in the
global feed, it will be business as usual with full
commercial time in India. "There will be ads because
it is not breaking news,'' Haresh Chawla, CEO, CNBC
India, has been quoted as saying. Chawla says the
whole day would be devoted to 11 September and its
impact on business in India.
It is not surprising to see though, that a bulk of
the programming load in India is being done by the
likes of BBC World, CNN, Discovery and National Geographic.
CNN's concentration is on the ceremonials being performed
within the US. The documentaries airing also focus
on the country and foreigners are only tackled as
to how living in the US has changed for them. BBC's
coverage however, has a more global focus. It takes
into account what the sentiment of people residing
in Kabul, Jerusalem, Cairo are like.
 |
Discovery's coverage is perhaps the most varied and
interesting of the lot. Through a series of specials
it examines different kinds of terrorism - be it religious
or backed by the state, so that the viewer gets an
overall perspective of the evolution of this kind
of activity.
National Geographic moves on a different track altogether.
The focus of its coverage is on how dogs played a
crucial role in rescue efforts in the aftermath of
9/11, sniffing out survivors trapped beneath the rubble
and helping relief teams dig out the dead.
(The Associated Press photographs on this page
and the Home Page have been accessed from www.flatoday.com).
1.
BBC World providing extensive coverage from around
the world
2.
CNN covering memorials as well as screening special
documentaries
3.
Eight specials on Discovery commemorating
4.
Check out what Aaj Tak has up its sleeve
5.
Zee News has 50 special news story packages
6.
An overview of what the US Networks have lined up
7.
Canine tales on NGC
Click
here for Archives
|
