Since there have been all kinds of reports and rumours about Day & Night News during the last 24-hours, it is only right that I directly address the issue and put things in some perspective.
Day & night News was started about three years ago, as a premier 24X7 mulit-lingual news channel focusing on northern states of Punjab, Haryana, J&K, HP and Chandigarh. Within two months of its launch, it started facing disruptions in its telecast on the cable network in Punjab. Finally, Day & Night News was finally taken off the cable network in Punjab in February 2011.
Since then, the channel has not been put on the cable network in Punjab. Given the TRP system in this region, which is heavily dependent on cable viewing in Punjab, the Channel continued to bleed financially month after month. In areas of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana where it is available on the cable networks, the channel gained wide recognition. During this time, the channel which was initially available on about half a dozen DTH platforms, was forced to scale down its viewing to only two DTH platforms - Dish and DD Direct+. However, due to the blackout on the cable network in Punjab, which affected the TRP, which in turn affected the advertising revenues, the Channel’s financial losses continued to mount.
As a result, from the 1st of August, 2013, we had to go off both the Dish and DD Direct+ platforms. The Channel continues to be blocked on the cable network in Punjab, which is controlled by a cartel, a fact which has been upheld by the Competition Commission of India vide its order in July 2012. The cable cartel, as is widely known, is backed by a powerful political entity, which also runs a group of news and entertainment channels.
Since then, the channel has not been put on the cable network in Punjab. Given the TRP system in this region, which is heavily dependent on cable viewing in Punjab, the Channel continued to bleed financially month after month. In areas of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana where it is available on the cable networks, the channel gained wide recognition. During this time, the channel which was initially available on about half a dozen DTH platforms, was forced to scale down its viewing to only two DTH platforms - Dish and DD Direct+. However, due to the blackout on the cable network in Punjab, which affected the TRP, which in turn affected the advertising revenues, the Channel’s financial losses continued to mount.
As a result, from the 1st of August, 2013, we had to go off both the Dish and DD Direct+ platforms. The Channel continues to be blocked on the cable network in Punjab, which is controlled by a cartel, a fact which has been upheld by the Competition Commission of India vide its order in July 2012. The cable cartel, as is widely known, is backed by a powerful political entity, which also runs a group of news and entertainment channels.
Since all this affected the revenue growth of Day & Night News, the Channel Management was left with no alternative but to drastically scale down its overall operations.
Interestingly, during the inaugural function of Day & Night News on August 11, 2010, I had talked about distribution of TV channels being controlled by some of the state governments. I had, of course, said that given the stature of leaders of the region, the fears appear unfounded. Unfortunately, those warnings were not without basis and I was perhaps too naïve to have had faith in the system.
I would like to congratulate the political entities mentioned earlier for having succeeded in their designs. You may ask: is this a defeat for the forces upholding the freedom of the press? I would say, it is a victory in defeat because the principles are still intact.
Lastly, I must mention that since the operations of Day & Night News will be considerably scaled down, I will not be a part of the overall project. But, I am committed to fair & fearless journalism and of course the freedom of the press, as enshrined in the Constitution of India - one that our founding fathers envisioned.
Those of you who wish to communicate with me can now do so via email, facebook or twitter.
Email: sankanwar@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KANWARSANDHU8
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SandhuKanwar
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KANWARSANDHU8
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SandhuKanwar
