Its poaching season for news channels

Its poaching season for news channels

ITV

NEW DELHI: For those active in the electronic medium and TV journalists, it seems happy days are here again. And for broadcasters and TV software companies, it is also poaching time.

The latest, according to the capital's grapevine, to do the hop, step and jump is Dibang who has left Aaj Tak to join as executive editor at NDTV which probably is preparing for life after Star post 31 March, 2003.

It is also being said here at the Press Club of India, a place where gossip flies thick and fast, that along with Dibang, a former Times of India journalist and a few others from Aaj Tak may also go. Though not confirmed, but the names doing the rounds of those who may leave Aaj Tak for other pastures include that of news anchors Nagma and Prasoon Pandey.

While Star India is fast recruiting people from the print and the electronic medium (Gaurav Sawant, formerly on the defence beat at the Indian Express in Delhi, is already said to have left for training abroad for Star's news channel), NDTV does not seem to be far behind.

In recent times, not only has it recruited people for its news portal, ndtv.com, but is also wooing people for its proposed Hindi and English channels slated to be launched next year. Apart from Dibang, Ajit Sahi is also reported to be joining NDTV. Sahi, a former executive producer with the defunct Business India TV, had been working with India Abroad News Service (IANS).

Sahara, in the meanwhile, too has been getting newspersons in place for its proposed state-specific news channels. In recent times some people from Jain TV, have reportedly joined Sahara Samay (news) family.

But what is exciting print medium journalists that they suddenly see opportunities at their existing place of work and also in TV. Newspaper offices on the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, the Fleet Street of Delhi, these days are agog with talks as to who is going where and who is getting a promotion subsequent to people leaving for TV.

The mantra these days in journalistic circles is: make hay while the (TV) sun shines.