With takeover of New Delhi TV ( NDTV ) , Is it end of Bright Television Journalism
English medium Indian Journo Prannoy Roy who hosted several prime time current affairs program on Doordarshan in nineties and also anchor the popular Show” World This week” on international DD channel plunged into a new domain to launch English news Channel New Delhi Television which became popular not in the country but in entire South east Asia and Gulf countries for its in-depth neutral coverage of all events, breaking news, festivals, economic issues and Election and politics. Mr Roy was accompanied by Radhika Roy who was senior journalist worked for Indian Express for many decades. Mr Roy also joined by India’s Prominent Media person like Sudipto Banerjee, late Vinod Dua, Rajdeep Desi, Ravish, Barkha Dutt, Nidhi Razdan and galaxy of Indian media icons who elevated the Indian English Journalism to a new heights. Pranav Roy gave a full freedom to his editorial board and he keeps himself as active Media person and made horizontal expansion of news channel include NDTV 24/7, NDTV India(Hindi channel) NDTV color, NDTV profit and NDTV-Hindu Tamil channel. Mr Roy was first Media Tycoon who also made fray into World Television by launching International channel abroad. NTDV ruled almost 20 yrs in Indian media and produce many budding anchors, reporters and TV media editor. The downfall of Roy’s Media empire began aftermath of elevation of Narinder Modi as Prime Minister. Rajdeep Sardesai wrote in his book 2014 – The Election that changed India that Modi didn’t have money to pay taxi when he made him guest of TV shows on NDTV. NDTV and Rajdeep Sardesai venture into cover Godhra riots but he could not enjoy same Relations with Modi during his tenure as CM of Gujarat. NDTV televised live shows with glamorous personality and expanded its coverage from New Delhi to Mumbai to keep strong grip on financial issues. Roy also popularized TV shows on Economic issue and his academic career as Economist he could gave minute details on post 1990 economic reforms. NDTV did not compromise with its Journalistic ethics and it was only channel which did not joined band wagon of so-called Godi media. A new Indian media icons Ravish Kumar challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its leaders to give him interview and joined his prime time shows which is famous for asking people centric hard questions. Love and hate for Roy, Vindod Dua, Radhika Roy, Ravish and Barkha Dutt during Modi regime did not rest for a while. Media Corporate who bought stake in several Indian media houses started hunting the NDTV which was listed company. The promoters of NDTV and Roy and Radhika Roy venture new media dominance battle to take majority share of NDTV. Corporate houses Adani following footsteps of his competitor Mukesh Ambani who purchased TV -18 purchased the stake of NDTV and forcing the Pranav Roy and Radhika Roy to resign from Broad cast Board of NDTV. Three media person who are close to Adani group was elevated to Broadcast board of NDTV. Ramon Magsaysay award winning journalist Ravish Kumar made news not for Indian media and his crores fans after he also quit the NDTV. This transition of Indian English Television and Journalism would go to Indian media history books for its verified, neutral, effective and attractive media coverage. Prominent International media house including BBC Hindi and number of Social media group, news portal and Media WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter accounts of fans of Ravish Kumar, Pranav Roy and Radhika Roy flooded with posts eulogizing role of them for not bowing before the Authoritarian Government and works under Corporate media lobby. The NDTV lost its icons with running out of these Media persons however how many more may left it could not be ruled out. Ravish is already working on his U-tube channel as news was broke by several Social Media portal much earlier to this TV shakes. Barkha Dutt is already working with her U tube channel. Ravish Kumar have author a book ‘Free Voice’. Television Media which considered in it infancy seemed to be in Juvenile forms is on the verge of extinction as control of several channel are already taken by the big Corporate house and its ownership nature are becoming business and profit oriented. The challenge before Indian media is not only of its Corporate control but size of business and advisement gone down drastically in last few years. There are raids on Indian media houses and number of Journalist were book under several black laws which belonged to colonial British rules. Journalist are facing libel and defamation suits. The Godi Media was exposed for fake TRP rackets and media trial of number of cases denigrated Indian vernacular and Hindi media. English and Foreign press still have some reliance . Like phenix we hope that Indian English TV Journalism would rise again from its ashes.