MUMBAI: The past month or so has seen the noise levels in the English news television space reaching a crescendo with the launch of the Arnab Goswami-helmed Republic TV which has been grabbing all the media space.
We now turn the focus on The Times Network which has been the frontrunner in this space, with its Times Now and Mirror Now (earlier, Magic Bricks Now) channels. The MK Anand-headed news network says it is doing very well, the claims by Hotstar and Republic TV, notwithstanding.
The English news channel has been pushing the tag line “Times Now Next Level.” Led by one of the more familiar news anchors and just-promoted editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar, it is further planning to strengthen its leadership in the news space as the most cutting-edge, engaging, and dynamic news destination in India.
Shivshankar along with veteran news anchors Navika Kumar and Anand Narasimhan are setting the pace to position Times Now as “a channel that is constantly redefining and reinventing news broadcast in India, with‘Next Level,’ and giving its viewers an innovative, immersive and involved experience.”
The news network says that shows such as ‘The Newshour Debate’ and “India Upfront”- the relative percentage shares of which have reached 60 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively, in the current week - have been recording maximum viewership in prime time. Whether it’s the expose of the Hurriyat-ISI link or #MallyaGate, Times Now claims it has seen its average weekly impressions grow by 66 per cent in the 13-week period since mid-December and five per cent in relative share percentage – thus living up to its pledge and justifying its brand statement ‘Action Begins Here.’
Recently, it introduced The Morning NewsHour in Hindi in order to expand its viewer base. “The idea is to convert an educated non-English news watcher to become a viewer of English news,” Times Network CEO and MD MK Anand says.
Additionally, it has also rolled out its Times Now HD service in order to gives viewers a better viewing experience.
Its presence on social – through up-to the minute updates - has a humungous 15 million followers and its Times Now App is also beginning to get traction. Finally, Anand points out that its 3D VR newsroom and a virtual studio, enhances the viewers experience. With a 360-degree view, the network has been working on presenting the future of news reporting with a cutting-edge technology.
Concepts such as ‘Snapwrap’ and ‘Picture Book’ are helping viewers keep a track of all the news throughout the day at a glimpse with pictures onscreen. ‘News Day360’ gets five critical developments on the two biggest stories of the channel whereas ‘Top10’ gives 10 important highlights to the viewers while they are hooked on to the main story. From connecting with viewers on-air to online, Times Now, Anand says, is changing the face of newsroom reporting.
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