Indian Media Bash Blog

Local television channels don’t have the quality, content or glitz that the national television channels offer. Understandably so, given their viewership is limited. But because of the sleeky glitzy national media content, we are watching less and less of local programming. As a result, our awareness about city/township governance is at an all time low.

You wouldn’t take much time to guess the name of the national BJP/Congress president. But when it comes to state level, you fumble. Do you even know who’s representing your locality in the municipal corporation? Probably not. The TRP rating of the union budget telecast is among the highest. But we hardly know or care whether the state budget is telecasted or not. What about the municipal corporation? I don’t remember having watched a municipality budget on television ever. Have you?

It’s ironical, because the local self governments are the closest to us in terms of the chain of power. That’s probably where a citizen could have maximum impact. Unfortunately we hardly know much about them. I think it’s because we don’t have quality local programming.

Is there a way by which we could elevate the quality of local programming; get more people to watch them? It’s time to get local guys !