KM Special October 26, 2009
Not a Comedy Show....Jagathi Sri Kumar in Serious form
Mamootty the Great Actor! Reality Show Stampade!
Reality behind the Reality Stage(d) Show
The Media in the Gulf is going gaga about a stampede outside a reality show featuring the Malayalam superstar, Mammootty, for a Malayali TV Channel, which is part of the Murdoch media empire now. About three weeks after it become a pay channel, the reality show featuring the Malayalam superstar and the current Chairman of the rival channel, Kairali TV, Mammootty grabbed headlines, not only in the Gulf Malayalam media but even a prominent English newspaper like the National. The Reality show in the name of Kairali TV Chairman, Mammottty, went on air about three months ago and the actor was stunned by the proposal from a rival channel. As Mamootty, like his colleague, Mohanlal is an ace actor and businessman, he agreed for the deal which includes a key role for the reality show winner in the next film planned by the Mamootty film production company, Playhouse. Nobody knows how much money Mamootty got from the global media empire to agree for the show.According to the channel insiders, the entire exercise was like a reality show hoax planned as part of a grand media strategy of the new Murdochian channel. Full Report
Tough Way of Learning Journalism in the UK
Suspecting Journalism students filming the London City the Metropolitan Police searches them as potential terrorists
by Cynthia Chandran*
London: Panic, nervousness, stress, late coming, plagiarism; get rid of all this, if you ever want to be a successful journalist.” These were the first few words from my online media journalism tutor, David Gyimah just after enrolling at University of Westminster’s Masters Course in Journalism. His words reverberated in my mind for several days, whether I had made the right decision to pursue higher studies after having almost a decade’s journalistic experience in India and Dubai. Full Report
CPM Supporter Lashes Out at Malayalam Media coverage of Pinarayi Vijayan, SNC Lavlin Case
CPM members are seriously concerned about the prejudiced and lopsided reporting by the Malayalam print and visual media, allegedly using some mediocre commentators and so called experts. Read this report by one Ram Kumar about Malayalam Media's Prejudiced Reporting About CPM./Pinarayi Vijayan The column in Malayalam says Mathruboomi and other Malayalam newspapers and channels are indulged in one sided rather lopsided journalism and some yellow journalists a re even peeping into the party leaders personnel life. Source Captured from emails.. Read More
KM Exclusive - Pay or Perish: Asianet will become pay channel from October 1, 2009
- July 11, 2009 -
Asianet,
the leading entertainment channel from Kerala, will become the
first pay channel in the state with effect from October 1, 2009,
KM learns from reliable sources. Asianet, the first Malayalam
TV channel started by a well known journalist Shashi Kumar with
the support of budding Malayali entrepreneurs, is now under the
total control of the international media mogul, Rupert Murdoch,
through Star India. The gradual migration to an encrypted paid
channel will boost the revenue flow to the channel. The migration
from a free channel to a paid channel is part of the overall
integration of Asianet channels into the Star India culture.
- As on December 31, 2008, there are 129 pay channels and 180 free to air channels in India . The STAR TV channels likeSTAR Movies, STAR News, EPN-STARetc are paid channels and from next October, Asianet viewers will have to pay a monthly fees for watching their favourite programmes on Asianet and Asianet Plus. Currently, eighty per cent of the viewers in Kerala are subscribed to the channel through Asianet cable network and pay a monthly subscription of Rs 150 per month. In the state, the channel may slightly increase this monthly payment, the rates are yet to be finalized.Once it become a paid channel, viewers will be able to access the channels only through a decoder sold by the channel.
- The sale of decoder will be another major revenue source for the channel. In the Middle East, the group will create a separate beam and may work as a separate channel. Asianet News channel may be kept out of the pay channel and the outgoing Asianet chairman Raji Menon, who toiled day and night to develop the channel into the most popular Malayalam TV channel will be satisfied with an insignicient stake in Asianet News channel. This concession is because Rupert Murdoch, a foreign investor, cannot control an Indian news channel. Star India representatives were in Dubai as part of the restructuring exercise and to discuss with Arabsat, the leading satellite firm, about positioning some of the Asianet channels for the Middle East viewers. Using a separate beam the channel will be able to generate more Gulf specific programmes and advertisements.
- According to the media company's official website, STAR’s channels are distributed to more than 400 million viewers in 53 Asian countries and beyond. STAR is watched by approximately 120 million viewers every day, making it the preferred choice for marketers and advertisers in the region. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, cable systems and distribution, direct-to-home services, terrestrial TV broadcasting and wireless and digital services. STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world's largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee.
- STAR India has been delivering television services to India since economic reforms began in the country in 1991. Since then, set against the backdrop of unprecedented economic growth in the country, STAR India has developed into a leading television network with a national footprint. STAR India broadcasts 20 channels in seven languages. Its television brands include STAR PLUS, STAR MOVIES, STAR WORLD, STAR ONE, STAR NEWS, STAR GOLD, STAR UTSAV, STAR VIJAY, STAR SPORTS, CHANNEL [V], ESPN, STAR ANANDA, Asianet, Asianet Plus, Suvarna and Sitara. STAR PLUS, STAR India’ flagship Hindi general entertainment channel, redefined Indian television with the launch of Kaun Banega Crorepati (Indian version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire) in 2001, catapulting the channel to a leadership position it still holds today. Other leading channels in STAR India’s stable include Bengali general entertainment channel STAR JALSHA, which is No. 1 in West Bengal and Malayalam general entertainment channel Asianet, the No. 1 channel in the Southern state of Kerala, according to the official website. Watch out.
- K P Mohan Resigns from Asianet, Joins Jai Hind TV --STAR and Jupiter Entertainment form South Indian General Entertainment Television Joint Venture
- Pay or Perish: Asianet will become pay channel from October 1, 2009
July 2, 2009
UAE Court Order to Close Emarat Al Youm Undermines Media Freedom
(New York) - A ruling by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal to suspend a local newspaper and fine its editor-in-chief further undermines press freedom in the United Arab Emirates, Human Rights Watch said today. The court decision to uphold the conviction against Emarat Alyoum means that publication of the newspaper will be suspended for 20 days, and its editor, Sami al-Araimi, (right) will be fined 20,000 dirhams (US$5,445), according to reports in another UAE newspaper on July 2, 2009. An October 2006 article published by Emarat Alyoum had alleged that a UAE-based company gave steroids to local race horses owned by the Abu Dhabi royal family. The government has on numerous occasions used the country's laws to penalize, fine, and close media establishments.
"Even if the article was not accurate, shutting down the newspaper for three weeks is totally disproportionate and a serious attack on press freedom," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "This can only further intimidate news organizations that investigate and criticize the government, and will deepen the already pervasive culture of self-censorship."
The conviction demonstrates why the UAE should revise its draft media law, Human Rights Watch said. The draft law, if passed in its current form, would include even more exorbitant civil penalties that could bankrupt media outlets and silence dissenting voices. It would also give the government power to suspend the licenses of newspapers, radio stations, and television channels for insignificant infractions.
International human rights law guarantees freedom of speech and of the press, placing particular importance on the right of the media to investigate and criticize public authorities and figures, and publish on other matters of public interest. Restrictions on the media should not be arbitrary and any sanctions must be proportional.
June 30 2009.
Court Order suspension of Emarat Al Youm newspaper over 'horse doping' claims
A UAE court ordered the suspension of a local newspaper after it published an article claiming horses owned by the Abu Dhabi ruling family were doped, Al Ittihad Arabic Newspaper said on Thursday.The ruling, which was issued on Wednesday and can not be overturned, stipulates that Arabic-language Al-Emarat Al-Youm halt publication for 20 days, a verdict effective "within a few days," said the Abu Dhabi-based Al-Ittihad.Al-Emarat Al-Youm, run by Arab Media Group under Dubai Holding, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum, in October 2006 published a front-page story accusing the Warsan Stables of using dope on horses.Warsan Stables is owned by members of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi.
K P Mohan Resigns from Asianet, Joins Jai Hind TV
KM can reveal that K P Mohan, Managing Editor of Asianet, the number one Malayalam news and entertainment channel of Kerala to join the Congress mouthpiece, Jai Hind TV. KM Learns that the senior most journalist in Asianet who was the Managing Editor of the popular channel for quite sometime is now contemplating to be the Chief Executive Officer of Jai Hind TV, the official channel of Indian National Congress, which is seen as an entry point to state and national politics.
A former president of Kannur Youth Congress, the senior journalist has been nurturing political ambitions and his move to the Congress party channel is viewed as a smart exit from Asianet, which is now under the total control of international media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Mohan, who was working in Kuwait as a senior journalist in an English daily, has joined Asianet during its initial troublesome days and invested part of his NRI money to revive the channel. He was instrumental in developing the channel from its teething troubles to the neumero one channel in Kerala.
It is also known that a strong NRI lobby from Kuwait, who are currently working for the Congress channel, are not so happy with the new CEO. Whether it is an impact of Murdoc takeover or a strategic decision by the jounralist himself, the media world in the small state of Kerala is bound to witness more upheavals. Senior journalists from other channels are also attracted towards Jai Hind, which will be calling the shots at least for the next five years, after the UPA alliance returned to power in New Delhi. Mohan had the Jai Hind offer a year ago and he is now waiting for the acceptance of his resignation letter from Asianet. The status of his shareholding in Asianet is not known, but he continues to be a shareholder in Menon Impex, a company of NRI Reji Menon, the former owner of Asianet and current partner of Rupert Murdoch. Mohan is aiming for a party ticket in the next election --state election? The Congress leaders in Kuwait who were instrumental in raking up the Indian school issue are now unhappy.... Watch out.
New UAE Media Law i Restricts Freedom of Press: HRW
Dubai) - A new draft law to regulate the news media unlawfully restricts free expression and will unduly interfere with the media's ability to report on sensitive subjects, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The pending law also includes provisions that would grant the government virtually complete control in deciding who is allowed to work as a journalist and which media organizations are allowed to operate in the country.
The 13-page report, "Just the Good News, Please: New UAE Media Law Continues to Stifle Press," says that the new law contains some improvement over the draconian media law currently in effect. But it will continue to punish journalists for such infractions as "disparaging" government officials or publishing "misleading" news that "harms the country's economy." Human Rights Watch researched the report by analyzing the provisions of the pending law as well as interviewing foreign and local journalists based in the UAE.
"The law will muzzle the press, preventing honest reporting about the country's continuing financial crisis or about its rulers," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Its vague clauses and harsh fines will almost guarantee arbitrariness by government authorities and self-censorship by the media."
The Federal National Council, the UAE's legislature, passed the draft law on January 20, 2009, and it awaits the signature of President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. More than 100 leading Emirati academics, journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists have urged the president to reconsider the law. The Human Rights Watch report also urges the president not to approve the pending law in its current form.
Unlike the current law, the proposed law contains no criminal penalties and will be part of the civil law. It reduces the number of administrative infractions that media organizations can be held liable for. The law also instructs government institutions to facilitate information flow to media, and, most significant, mandates that journalists cannot be coerced into revealing their sources.
But, along with the continuing restrictions on content, the pending law has other provisions that do as much to harm press freedom as they do to improve conditions, Human Rights Watch said.
The law imposes exorbitant civil penalties that could bankrupt media outlets and silence dissenting voices found to violate the overbroad restrictions on content. Media organizations found to have "disparaged" senior government officials or the royal family face fines up to 5,000,000 dirhams (US$1,350,000), and those found to have "misled" the public and "harmed" the economy face fines of up to 500,000 dirhams (US$135,000). It also requires media organizations to post an unspecified security deposit against which fines may be charged, which would set a significant barrier to entry for smaller, independent press organizations.
Provisions governing media licensing do not clearly articulate the standards the government will apply in approving or denying licenses, effectively granting the government unfettered power to determine who may or may not publish information in the UAE, Human Rights Watch said. The pending law also gives the government power to suspend the licenses of newspapers, radio stations, and television channels for insignificant infractions of the law's vague restrictions.
The law also gives the government authority to regulate who can work as an editor, reporter, correspondent, or producer in the country. This authority is susceptible to abuse and infringes on the media's freedom of expression by preventing media outlets from organizing, managing, and operating free from governmental interference, the report says.
"These intrusions make a mockery of the notion that an independent media exists in the UAE," Whitson said. "The president has the option to send this law back and to show leadership in seeking a law that truly supports a free press."
Asianet Shatters Viewership Records in Kerala
Idea Star Singer scores 28.79 TVR and a 71% share
Thiruvananthapuram , 11 May – Asianet, the leading Malayalam language channel in India, broke viewership records in the state of Kerala with its highly popular reality show, Idea Star Singer. The April 25th grand finale of the singing contest scored a record breaking TVR of 28.79 in its female target group, achieving a share of 71 percent and GRPs of 307. In the overall CS universe, the program garnered an impressive 23.58 TVR with a share of 67 percent. Speaking on Idea Star Singer’s success, R Sreekandan Nair, Vice President, Programmes, Asianet Communciations, said, “The production of Star Singer is done exclusively in-house, with the very best talents of Malayalam television. The rating of the grand finale is an all time record in the history of any stage event in South India. This success is the result of the fantastic team work, and is something we can all truly take pride in.” Idea Star Singer, sponsored by leading Indian mobile operator Idea, hunts for the most talented singer in Kerala.
Media Freedom in the Gulf More Stories--Manorama Writes Stories Every Day..Now Read a Story About Manorama Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information to ArchiveDigital Media
Modernization of Saudi TV and Radio Riyadh, June 2009 - The Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information (MOCI) has rolled out a major archiving project with EMC Middle East, in a bid to streamline and digitize its information assets. As part of the ongoing transformation of Saudi TV and Radio, the new EMC information management solution will provide the Ministry with greater control over its media assets to boost its workflow efficiency and reduce cost of operations while protecting its legacy and automating the retrieval of information to streamline broadcasting services.
The broadcast sector in Saudi Arabia has grown rapidly in recent years, and the newly adopted digital Archive Information Management Solution will facilitate Saudi TV and Radio in seamlessly digitizing its analog media assets representing years of the Kingdom's heritage and in transforming its services to the broadcast industry standard. The Ministry is committed to protect the Kingdom's legacy and to provide all Saudi citizens with a focal source of information about Saudi Arabia which will service its country-wide network of information centers. The EMC solution will protect over 270,000 video and 500,000 audio tapes that have the data on the history and culture of the Kingdom encompassing over 50 years.
"The protection of the Kingdom's media heritage comes as a top priority for the Ministry. A`vailability and accessibility and ease of access to media assets are crucial factors in the broadcast industry to ensure effectiveness and maximum quality of broadcast services. By deploying EMC's solution at two main sites, we will be able to digitize our Media Assets, to easily duplicate it thus protecting our rich heritage and ensuring constant, redundant and automated availability of information whilst reducing operational and maintenance costs," explained Dr. Riyadh Najm, Deputy Minister for Engineering Affairs, MOCI.(pictured above)
"We wanted to protect our media assets from loss due to natural disasters or wear and tear of tapes, to repurpose our media assets throughout the broadcast content lifecycle and to enhance our broadcast services through automated, continuous and faster access to information. We chose EMC's solutions as they met the high and demanding requirements that we have for continuous, reliable availability and disaster recovery," Dr. Najm continued.
"Fast and ongoing accessibility of information is critical in the complex world of broadcast where data is constantly growing at an exponential rate," explained Habib Mahakian, Telco, Media & Entertainment Director, Middle East & North West Africa, EMC (right). "The Ministry required a scalable and comprehensive solution to manage and protect their digital information assets. What we have deployed for the MOCI is a high-quality networked storage solution that will provide the Ministry with the flexibility to grow with the growth of their information. We are really proud to work with the Ministry and be part of this major transformation of the Saudi TV & Radio"
EMC installed a fully-scalable, interoperable infrastructure comprising of an industry leading EMC CLARiiON® networked storage system, an EMC Celerra® unified storage system, and EMC Connectrix® switches and directors that will manage more than 700 terabytes of data at two sites in the Kingdom. EMC provides the Ministry with a fully digital solution to manage both their historical and new media assets and will enable real-time collaboration in multiple-asset types with multiple broadcast formats. The Ministry of Culture and Information is the owner of the official Saudi TV and Radio Network. Currently, it has four TV channels (operating in both terrestrial and via satellite) and four radio channels (operating in FM and AM frequency bands). In order to cover the whole country terrestrially, the Ministry has about 26 medium-wave transmission stations, as well as about 150 TV and FM transmission stations of different power levels. EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) is the world's leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information.
Indian Media Forum Meet the Press with Kerala Education Minister M A Baby..
Hassan Fattah steps up as Editor in Chief as Newland Steps Down, sorry Steps Up
Abu Dhabi Media Company confirmed that Martin Newland, the founding Editor in Chief of The National, will spearhead expansion of the newspaper’s brand across the company’s range of platforms and services in a new role as Editorial Director. Hassan Fattah will step up from his role of Deputy Editor to become the new Editor in Chief. Commenting on the promotions, Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Media Company said: “The National has rapidly established a reputation for quality, innovation and authority thanks to its world-class editorial team. We are delighted that Martin will now focus his efforts on the next phase of brand expansion across our digital and broadcast spaces, enabling us to pioneer a new era of regionally relevant, on-demand content to rival the multiple platform approach of global news brands.
Day to day editorial control of The National’s converged newsroom passes to the experienced hands of Hassan Fattah. Together, these well deserved promotions from within the company reiterate our commitment to The National and to recognising the achievements of both Martin and Hassan.”Martin Newland said: "Launching The National has been a great accomplishment. My new role allows me to build on this success and to explore the brand potential in the new multi platform era. My job of building the business of The National story remains on the ambitious path of growth and expansion. I am as excited by the new challenges today as I was when I first started.
Edward Borgerding, CEO of Abu Dhabi Media Company, said: "Martin Newland and Hassan Fattah have forged a formidable partnership in setting up The National; A partnership that will be invaluable as Martin now drives the broader ambitions of The National brand forward.”The National’s new Editor in Chief, Hassan Fattah said: "We have assembled a dream team of journalists over the past year and a half with the ambition of making The National essential reading in the UAE and the region as a whole, setting a new bar in excellence in journalism and production. In the dynamic environment of the Middle East media landscape The National will continue to thrive based on its commitment to excellent journalism, photography and more. The National is evidence to the publishing world that great brands, built on quality, can succeed and grow.”(Above Hassan Fattah)
Community Radio Station in Mananthavady, Kerala
June 9, 2009 -Indian Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government has signed a Grant of Permission Agreement for establishing, maintaining and operating a Community Radio Station at Wayanad Social Service Society, Mananthvady, Kerala. The Community Radio Service in Mananthvady is named as ‘Community Radio Mattoli’ and the process of establishing the service has already been set in motion. Letter of Intent had been issued to the Institute after recommendations of Inter Ministerial Committee and seeking requisite clearances from various Ministries. The Community Radio Station is expected to be operational within three months as per the agreement. The Ministry encourages setting up the Community Radio Stations that aim at the socio economic empowerment of tribals, women, small / marginal farmers in the area of operation through participatory / sustainable development means, and to promote self reliance through empowerment of the target group. Its mission is organizing / empowering the target groups consisting of small / marginal farmers, women, tribals and children for a participatory development process aimed at sustainable as well as integral development. Wayanad Social Service Society was established in 1974, to conduct, manage promote, maintain, equip, administer and coordinate Social Welfare Centre, Social Training Centres, Technical Schools, Social Institutes, Dispensaries, Hospitals, Clubs, Recreational centers, Reading Rooms, to give practical and technical Knowledge to the people and to conduct cooperative societies, Marketing organizations, Housing Projects, Plantation, Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Development and training projects, and other activities conducive to the realization of the objects.
CNBC Arabiya Unveils Interactive Financial Portal
Dubai, --CNBC Arabiya has launched its interactive business website, cnbcarabia.com, designed to add significant value, and expand the range of services to its viewers, as the preeminent source of financial information and business news. In line with its broadcast counterpart, cnbcarabia.com delivers the latest business news both quickly and with high credibility, so that web visitors stay informed, and well prepared to make commercial decisions and financial investments.
"We are witnessing a time of dramatic change for regional companies as a result of current economic conditions. To stay ahead, it is key for Middle East business leaders to have access to the breaking news that is relevant to them - our new website offers that," said Steven F. Hall, CEO, CNBC Arabiya. cnbcarabia.com provides breaking news coverage, in-depth analysis, and first rate account of issues and events, and is designed in a way that allows site visitors to interact with its content by commenting on the issues covered.
The website also showcases interviews with key players from the world of business and finance, including extended highlights to complement the programming output on the CNBC Arabiya news station. In addition, CNBC Arabiya's presenters regularly appear on the site to give their insights and views about current issues in the region and the world. cnbcarabia.com is also home to an extensive library of company profiles enabling visitors to the site to track a business's stock market performance over a period of time, as well as viewing company profile information. The website's discussion forum gives visitors the opportunity to debate the latest business news across the various sectors, and provides an interactive platform to share knowledge and experience.Mohamed Burhan, Executive Editor, CNBC Arabiya, said "cnbcarabia.com harmoniously mixes the advantageous characteristics of electronic media and of broadcast television. You can simultaneously view and read the most important reports of the day being broadcast on CNBC Arabiya by going to cnbcarabia.com's "Matters of the Hour" section."
In addition to the website content, users are able to sign up online for text alerts, RSS feeds, and email news updates. The website also gives visitors a chance to learn about CNBC Arabiya's different programmes, transmission timings, guest line-ups and topics which are being discussed.
Media Awards for Indian Journalists in UAE
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Faisal bin Ahmed, (Left) Asianet Dubai correspondent and Jaleel Pattambi (Right), Editor in Charge Middle East Chandrika have been selected for the Chiranthana Samskarika Vedi Media Awards 2008. The duo have been selected for the award considering their investigative and humanitarian journalism initiatives in the difficult Gulf terrain. The annual award constituted by Chiranthana Samskarika Vedi, Dubai includes a gold medal, Ponnada and Citation will be given in a public function next October. This is the eighth Chiranthana media annual award. Jaleel who hails from Pattambi, Palakkadu, Kerala has been working as a journalist in the Gulf for about a decade and has made his impact in the Gulf Malayalam media circles. Before joining Middle East Chandrika as a senior journalist, Jaleel was working for Gulf Madhyajmam, Dubai and Doha and the Indian Express. For a brief period, Jaleel was also working in the Cultural Desk of The Hindu as a correspondent. He has also published a collection of Malayalam poems Vakku (Word) published by Chiranthana.
Faisal who hails from Omashery, Calicut has been working in the UAE for four years. Some of his investigative reports have exposed the illicit human trafficking and prostitution rings in the Gulf. In addition, his reports on the illegal migration of Indian workers to Iraq and the problems of Indian working class in the region have also created sensation. Chiranthana is a leading socio-cultural organisation in the UAE that encourages literary creations by publishing several books authored by journalists and others. Both the award winning journalists have published books in Malayalam. A cursory look at Faisals blog will give an idea about the kind of stories that he could break through Asianet. Jaleel too has to his credit many interesting stories of importance to the Indian community.
Recession hits Gulf Newspapers as journalists are being laid off
The real impact of economic crisis is being felt by Indian journalists working in the Gulf. A couple of days back, one of the leading English dailies from the region terminated 19 staff from various departments including reporters. While those who refused to resign are terminated and another 12 are asked to resign. Another English daily has been systematically reducing staff including those who were recruited in the past one year as part of a restructuring plan. In Oman, the proposed new English daily from the Apex Group is yet to launch its maiden edition. Many journalists recruited through poaching from rival English newspapers in Muscat are yet to see their first byline in the still born newspaper. "The economic situation is not so good to warrant a new English newspaper launch in Oman.
The market is already flooded with newspapers who give almost the same content. The size of English newspapers from Dubai too is shrinking as the construction advertisements, and spreads have disappeared. Many employees who worked in the classified and marketing departments are now looking for new jobs.Malayalam newspapers in the Gulf notorious for poor payment and benefits are also reducing already thin staff strength, leaving those who remain in job with increased burden. Only journalists working for a one year old English daily are exception to this general trend ---Unhappy with the extremely high pay packets by regional standards, some of the disgruntled journalists have leaked out the newspaper salary list on the Internet. The expose showed many Western journalists drawing hefty pay packets that are not matched by the newspaper circulation or advertising revenue. However, the Indian Asian scribes as usual are earning peanuts, but happy.Gulf English magazines are also not doing well. A well known English magazine has terminated many staffers and asked to work 15 days a month. Even senior marketing executives from English media have now found asylum in Malayalam TV channels.. like Asianet.
STAR and Jupiter Entertainment form South Indian General Entertainment Television Joint Venture
The STAR Jupiter Joint Venture to have majority interest in leading Malayalam channels Asianet andAsianet Plus, Kannada channel Suvarna, Telugu Channel Sitara and to own Tamil channel Vijay as well as any future general entertainment channels for South Indian audience
Bangalore, Mumbai, Hong Kong, 14 November, 2008 – STAR, Asia’s leading media and entertainment company, and Jupiter Entertainment Ventures (Jupiter Entertainment), Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s media and entertainment development company, today announced the formation of STAR Jupiter Entertainment Television Limited (STAR Jupiter), a joint venture aimed at enhancing the television viewing experience of South Indian audiences.
Under the agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, STAR Jupiter will become the majority shareholder of Asianet Communications Limited (ACL) which currently broadcasts channels in Kannada (Suvarna), Telugu (Sitara) and Malayalam (Asianet, Asianet Plus). Vijay, the Tamil language general entertainment channel currently operated and owned by STAR, will now come under STAR Jupiter. The Joint Venture is expected to make additional investments towards developing and launching new channels in South India in the coming months.
The current management team of ACL, including Vice-Chairman and Managing Director K Madhavan will continue in their roles under the Joint Venture. K Madhavan has built a talented creative team at ACL and established Asianet’s presence beyond India in the Middle-East, UK, US and South-East Asia. Under his stewardship over the past decade, ACL has delivered top-rated programs to audiences across the world.
Paul Aiello, CEO of STAR, said, “This is a game changing partnership for STAR. It allows us to connect deeply with the rapidly growing South Indian audience by providing compelling television that truly resonates with the viewers there. And by adding the South Indian channels to our extensive portfolio of Hindi and regional language channels, STAR takes a big step towards becoming a truly national broadcaster in India.”
Aiello continued, “Mr Chandrasekhar is a true pioneer and an accomplished entrepreneur in the media industry. His track record in the telecom and cellular industry and his performance in spotting and investing in new opportunities and building brands, consumer franchises and management teams from scratch in India is truly impressive. We are excited to have him as our partner in growing our presence in the South Indian television space. “
Rajeev Chandrasekhar said “I am very excited at this Joint Venture and partnership, which will potentially transform the entertainment television business in India. STAR has impressed me with its commitment to this market, to its consumers and to its partnership with Jupiter. I am sure that this Joint Venture will set new standards and become the pre-eminent provider of entertainment for customers and viewers in the four states of South India.”
Uday Shankar, CEO of STAR India said, “South India represents the next big growth story for Indian television. With this strategic partnership, we should be able to capture this growth opportunity and create a much bigger platform for creative talent that would offer the South Indian a lot more exciting content. The partnership also offers an exciting opportunity to those advertisers who are looking at nationwide reach vehicles and reinforce this with strong regional channels."
STAR and Jupiter are also exploring a wide range of new areas of cooperation including film co-production by Fox STAR Studios India and Indigo Movies, Jupiter Entertainment’s movie production arm.
Gulf Madhyamam Editor O Abdul Rahman Global Crisis Forces Malayalam Media to look at Gulf Market UAE Indian Media Cashes in On Election Frenzy -- Jaihind TV Launches TV Channel, Studio in Gulf-- New TV Channels Set to Launch in Dubai-- 95.3 Tune to Malayalam Radio
Biju Abel Jacob Young Angry Anchor of Gulf Round Up
Special Report - Gulf Round Up K M Bureau Dubai
DUBAI - June 20 2004 Gulf media in general and the mushrooming number of Malayalam Television channels in particular have been showing the colourful side of affluent overseas Malayali community life. The vast majority of working class Indians has been systematically sidelined in the media coverage. Thanks to the gradual improvement in media freedom and increased competition many channels which used to neglect the average man on the street are now trying to cover their life and problems extensively. There are many potential human interest stories about overseas Malayalis, mainly the construction workers who constitute a major chunk of the Indian community here. Majority of the working class live and work in the most unhygienic and unsafe conditions and the media often neglected their lot.
Due to growing media competition Kerala channels are changing their tune. This is more visible in Asianet channel's Gulf coverage. Asianet Gulf News programme used to be broadcasting mere Malayalam translation of local English newspaper reports and reproduction of handouts and press releases from hundreds of the so called Non Resident Associations. However, the situation appears to be changing. At least a couple of Asianet Gulf news programmes are attracting the Non Resident Keralites in the region and their families back home. One such programme is "Gulf Round Up", a 30 minute news programme by Biju Abel Jacob, a young enthusiastic journalist who has successfully completed 25 episodes.
Gulf: A Difficult Terrain for TV Journalist
Despite hostile working atmosphere for a TV journalist, possible interference by big advertisers and shortage of resources, the programme will be airing the 25th episode by early next month. While many of the so called sponsored commercial entertainment programmes aired by the channel from the Gulf Bureau are substandard items that no professional media organization will air, Gulf Round Up appears to be a qualitatively different programme. Asianet, which has presented many quality programmes like Kannady anchored by veteran journalist T.N. Gopakumar, is trying to develop Gulf Round Up as a popular programme showing the real problems facing the Malayali community in the six Gulf countries - UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. "This is for the first time that such human interest stories with visual support are produced from Dubai. Almost all the TV programmes about Gulf Keralites have been focused on the rich and affluent sections of society. Our focus is the neglected labour camps and other areas where vast majority of Keralites work. For such common people the basic problem is not to campaign for voting rights or more NRI admission seats. Their genuine problem is day to day survival without facing exploitation, cheating and harassment," says Abel.
Gulf Round Up
Covering the Gulf Shaikhs and Common man...Click to see the two side of Journalism.
Gulf Round Up is a result of the personal initiative of anchor Biju Abel Jacob who got full management support in this venture. The impact of Kairali channel, especially its Pravasilokam programme is another factor that prompted Asianet to start a professional and qualitatively better Gulf Round Up programme. "Our first episode was a comprehensive discussion on the high airfare to India. Many social organizations, airlines and NRKs participated," says Abel. Some of the notable features presented through Gulf Round Up include the story on the plight of Bahrain and Muscat construction workers, job seeking Keralites stranded in Kish Island, Iran for visa change, the sensitive story of a Gulf Malayali girl and family who were trapped in a sex racket in Muscat, special report on Sooraj Raj, a Malayali student of Emirates National School Sharjah who suffered from bone cancer and the pathetic story of Saji Kumar, a construction worker from Pandalam who met with a horrible accident in Sharjah and lost part of his head in a severe injury. In the last two cases (Sooraj Raj and Saji Kumar) the Gulf Round Up Report was followed by generous contributions from various Gulf Malayalis that helped their poor families to meet costly treatment expenses. (more)
Jeevan TV celebrates its 1st Anniversary "Jeevan Ananthapuri Event" inaugurated
by R.S.Priya (KM Bureau Trivandrum and V M Sathish Dubai)
Thiruvananthapuram/Dubai -May 15: A grand and colourful ceremony was organized at the University Senate Hall here on May 15th by Jeevan TV, the youngest TV channel in Kerala, to celebrate its first anniversary. Celebrities from diverse cultural fields like cinema, music, and literature attended the glittering function. Even though the event entitled "Jeevan Ananthapuri Event" was to be inaugurated by Aranmula Ponnamma, she couldn't turn up and the event was inaugurated by the all-time popular actor, Madhu. Others like the famous poet and lyricist P.Bhaskaran, Social thinker Guptan Nair and Jeevan TV Managing Director, Baby Mathew attended the inaugural function, which was attended by a celebrity studded audience. More Reports and Photographs. More News and Photo
