SAB’s Janmat to go on air from October with reality show

Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network’s 24-hour current affairs and news channel, Janmat, is scheduled for an October launch this year. Janmat, which is positioned as India’s first ‘views’ channel, promises to introduce a wide variety of interactive programming. Topping the list is a unique reality ‘talent hunt’ show, which will attempt to find three news anchors from all over India.

Markand Adhikari, vice-chairman and managing director, Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network, says, “As a part of the search for three new television anchors, we will introduce a reality show, which will go on air by December or January. The show is a talent hunt for aspiring news anchors.”

He says this yet-to-be-named show is different from the reality shows on other channels. “Most channels on television today have talent hunt reality shows for pop idols or dance sensations, but this particular show on Janmat will be the first time that a current affairs and news channel will take such a step. India has a number of aspiring news anchors today, and this special show is the perfect opportunity for them to make a name for themselves on television,” he explains.

The show will first filter candidates on the basis of their qualifications and qualities such as confidence, ability to interact with people, eloquence and journalism skills. The selected or ‘filtered’ candidates will then be put to the test through viewer votes via SMS and telephones. The ultimate three winners will go on to host various talk shows.

The reality show will have five eminent personalities from the field of journalism (whose names are yet to be finalised) on its panel of judges.

The winning anchors will join the bandwagon of stalwarts already on board Janmat such as Vir Sanghvi, Karan Thapar, Harish Gupta, Umesh Upadhyay, Rahul Dev, Swati Chaturvedi, Anish Trivedi, Sandeep Bamzai, Manpreet Brar Walia, Meher Bhasin and filmmaker and social activist Ashok Pandit.

Commenting on the kind of participant profile the channel is seeking, Adhikari says, “Since our channel is based on interactivity, we will be looking for a video jockey-cum-journalist. We need someone who can handle the audience well.”

Adhikari has been stressing for some time now that Janmat is not simply a news channel. As he puts it, “Around 70 per cent of the shows on Janmat are based on interactions with the audience. The channel will allow everyone to express their opinions, ranging from a politician to a common man. Also, if you see the news channels today, there aren’t too many talk shows that are popular, barring a few names. So, this is one major area on which we are concentrating.”

Janmat will cater to children, men, women and the youth. There will be over 45 shows in a variety of genres, from hardcore social and political analysis to programmes related to crime, lifestyles, youth, education and women. Viewers will be allowed to participate through a variety of interactive media.

Although Adhikari is unwilling to disclose the programming mix of Janmat, he is considering the possibility of involving film stars and other celebrities on various programmes so as to increase the channel’s popularity.

In addition to Janmat, Sri Adhikari Brothers Television Network is launching a Marathi general entertainment channel, Mi Marathi, also in October. Although both these channels were slated to be on air from June, the launches were delayed due to certain formalities and technicalities.

For the record, Janmat has three large state-of-the-art studios in Delhi and two in Mumbai. Senior journalist Harish Gupta will be the director, news, Janmat, and Umesh Upadhyay, director, Janmat, will look after the day-to-day affairs of the channel.

© 2005 agencyfaqs!