Mumbai, July 7, 2006: STAR News which first started the trend of Viewers turning Reporters in as early as 2003 with STAR Reporter, has consequently consolidated on 'people's reporting' with a roster of such timely viewer reported stories, taking the mandate of its positioning as the 'people's channel' that much further.

The recent heavy downpour on the 4th and 5th of July in Mumbai also provided a platform for people participation with hundreds of viewers sending in their narratives to be featured on the STAR News special feature "Aap Ka Bulletin", which is only the most recent instant of people participation in an otherwise long roster of other such initiatives.

The roster includes stories and videos brought in on the devastating Tsunami of December 2004, the London Blasts of July 2005, the infamous Delhi blasts of 29th October, the 'raging' Meerut Fire of April 10th, the crushing earthquake in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir at the turn of the New Year 2006 and numerous other instances reported via mobile clips, video footage, sms' and emails reported in and telecast on STAR News. People's Reporting has taken on a life of its own on STAR News, very often moving beyond reporting on facts into positive activism. At all the above instances people have sent in their reports in large numbers.

During the 26/7 Mumbai Deluge last year viewers braved flood waters and watery cesspools to bring in up-to-the-moment footage on life from the farthest corners of Mumbai. STAR News had then provided viewers an interactive platform, together with its own journalists to report on the happenings in Mumbai. STAR News' reporting format had then redefined the parameters of crisis reporting. Viewers played an important part in reporting on missing persons, offering advisories on ground-level realities at different locations and reporting in to the studios with often personal messages, seeking to connect with families. These were featured under two campaign formats at the time on STAR News - 'Aap Bane Reporter' and 'Hum Par Jo Gujre.' One viewer had even shot images and composed a tongue-in-cheek song on the Mumbai rains! Amateur video footage, in-studio interviews, mobile video clips, sms', emails and brave STAR News reporting had completed the first real-time viewer-led reporting on news television - a widely acknowledged feat.

People's Reporting has been institutionalized on STAR News with email ids pictures@starnews.co.in and starnews@vsnl.net accepting stories, pictures and MMS clips while the phone numbers 022-66630137 and 022-66630099 serving as hotlines to receive viewer inputs.

Recently, on the successful completion of the 3rd Anniversary milestone for STAR News, the channel launched a new and unique service for it's viewers - Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka; a 24- hours feedback mechanism that allows people to call in and express their views, opinions, suggestions or questions on a news story. A method of eliciting viewer interactivity, this service reinstates STAR News' position as the 'People's Channel', a promise it has made since its launch three years ago.

Rain or shine, STAR News keeps its promise of 'Aapko Rakhe Aagey'!

ABOUT STAR NEWS
STAR News, the first Indian news channel, is a joint venture between ABP TV - a 100 % subsidiary of ABP Pvt. Ltd. - and STAR India Pvt. Ltd., two of the biggest brands in Indian media. The Channel is best defined by a fair and balanced approach that combines prompt reporting with insightful analysis of news and current affairs. Living upto its motto of "Aapko Rakhe Aagey', STAR News is a people's channel that focuses on relevant news in a cutting-edge format. Since its conception, the Channel has grown to command a viewership of over 20 million Indian homes. Today, STAR News is available in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, Central Asia, UK, USA and Australia, making it the first and only Global Indian News Channel.

For further information, please contact:
Navin Tauro / Swati Sundareswaran / Daylon D'cruz
Vaishnavi Corporate Communications;
Tel: 022 5656 8787 / Fax: 022 5656 8788