Comments on: NDTV Imagine: A Family Drama http://bollyspace.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/ndtv-imagine-a-family-drama/ Thoughts on teaching and writing about south asian media and culture Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:07:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: aswinp http://bollyspace.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/ndtv-imagine-a-family-drama/#comment-295 aswinp Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:57:52 +0000 http://bollyspace.wordpress.com/?p=134#comment-295 Hi Sudhir - thanks for those comments! Your point about the relation between programming and access to technology (and I would put that as viewing practices) is an important one, and I did consider including that here. But to be honest, I don't have a clear understanding of that relation as yet. To begin with, I think some sociological work around this question of viewing practices would be very important. In fact, I can't think of any work on how TV fits into the daily rhythms of different kinds of homes across the country (with the exception of Mankekar's ethnography which does provide some insight here). And then, as you point out, one would need to trace changes in viewing practices historically - from the community TV set to single-set homes to TV sets in public spaces. Third, we also need some information on whether the last decade of "niche" TV has in fact translated into segmented viewing in the home (and whether programming decisions factor in ideas re who at home watches when). This would make a great topic... And nice catch with the title of the program - I didn't notice at all! Hi Sudhir - thanks for those comments! Your point about the relation between programming and access to technology (and I would put that as viewing practices) is an important one, and I did consider including that here. But to be honest, I don’t have a clear understanding of that relation as yet. To begin with, I think some sociological work around this question of viewing practices would be very important. In fact, I can’t think of any work on how TV fits into the daily rhythms of different kinds of homes across the country (with the exception of Mankekar’s ethnography which does provide some insight here). And then, as you point out, one would need to trace changes in viewing practices historically - from the community TV set to single-set homes to TV sets in public spaces. Third, we also need some information on whether the last decade of “niche” TV has in fact translated into segmented viewing in the home (and whether programming decisions factor in ideas re who at home watches when). This would make a great topic…

And nice catch with the title of the program - I didn’t notice at all!

]]> By: Sudhir http://bollyspace.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/ndtv-imagine-a-family-drama/#comment-294 Sudhir Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:59:43 +0000 http://bollyspace.wordpress.com/?p=134#comment-294 Nice post, Aswin. A few things struck me as noteworthy. First, the fact that much of the TV viewing population comprises single-TV households as the promo puts it (is this true?), and its figuring in NDTV calculations about how to brand this venture and imagine its demographic limits. I'm equally surprised as you are at this counter-intuitive attempt by NDTV at "homogenization" but wonder how it fits within a longer history or perhaps genealogy of the relation between programming and access to technology (thinking here of radio and your presentation from a few weeks back). Second, I noticed a few interesting slips in the promo - apart from Anchal being a city "sleeker" , the voice-over named the show as Main teri pehchaan hoon (I'm your identity) when it seems the show is really called Main teri parchain hoon (I'm your shadow). Interesting slip given the content! Nice post, Aswin. A few things struck me as noteworthy. First, the fact that much of the TV viewing population comprises single-TV households as the promo puts it (is this true?), and its figuring in NDTV calculations about how to brand this venture and imagine its demographic limits. I’m equally surprised as you are at this counter-intuitive attempt by NDTV at “homogenization” but wonder how it fits within a longer history or perhaps genealogy of the relation between programming and access to technology (thinking here of radio and your presentation from a few weeks back).

Second, I noticed a few interesting slips in the promo - apart from Anchal being a city “sleeker” , the voice-over named the show as Main teri pehchaan hoon (I’m your identity) when it seems the show is really called Main teri parchain hoon (I’m your shadow). Interesting slip given the content!

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