“Where are the break-free programmes?”

Please take your seat in the time machine. Let’s go to 1985-1995 era. We are watching Television, now. Come on, don’t ask which channel? In this time, Television means Doordarshan and Doordarshan. Remote control has no role to play. Even no one cares if it exist or not. One channel, many diverse programmes, many viewers, many expectations. But one by one, not at a time. Our DD is meeting and satisfying us. Popular programmes like Ramayana, Film on Sunday evening and Chitrahar are running house full. TRP word is not coined or used. It is the era of break-free entertainment or information. Yes, there is an intermission around 7.30 PM for Sunday film.  Please kindly note that all programmes are free in monetary aspects. 

Because of immense popularity, advertisements are telecast for almost 15 or even 20 minutes at the beginning or end of the programmes. But all of them are in one go. They do not disturb us while watching them. We have good probabilities to get engrossed. 

Now, come to current era with time machine. Many channels. Various categories. Few special categories. Virtually infinite number of programmes. Many viewers. Many expectations. Still we may feel unsatisfied. Remote control plays vital role. Few of the viewers do not watch TV without holding ‘remote control’ in the hand. They get the feel of watching only and only with remote control. Shhhh....Continuous search of some special programme is going on with this device. The search is on and on. But, still feel little bit unsatisfied. We had enough free lunch. It is the era of paid channels. We are paying various charges for those channels.

Now, I will take you to break scenario. In a serial of 30 minutes, you will watch serial for around 18-21 minutes. Rest 25-40% of your time, you need to surrender to channels to watch advertisements. Fine. But still you will not watch your programme ‘break-free’. You will find 2-4 breaks in the programme of 18-21 minutes. Analytically, 5 to 10 minutes in one-go. Are you okay with it? I am not. Is it what we wanted compare to DD era? How, one can get engrossed or have charm of the programme. If you talk about film, then for 2 ½ hours film will take your 3 ½ to 4 hours. Means, you have paid the additional cost by devoting your additional time. 

So, few TV channels became smart and launched the concept of ‘one-break-film’ or ‘movie-on-demand (without break)’. Still, at every half an hour you will find break. They are kind enough that they will not telecast commercial advertisement. But they will force you to watch advertisement of their channels’ various programmes. Concept is same. If they do not get anything, then they will show advertisement saying “you are watching break-free programme on our channel”. So, virtually it is not break-free.

Let me talk about FM Radio channels. They also became smart and launched the concept of ‘teen gaane back to back (Three songs in one-go)’ or ‘Yeh laga city ka chokka (four songs in one-go)’ or ‘Sunday ko shut up (Only songs on Sunday)’. But what is the reality, you and me know. After every song, they will play this tune to make you realize that it’s break-free.

So, ‘where is the break-free information or entertainment? Have we lost it in the globalization?’

Suresh Purohit (Su_hit)

Feb 17, 2011. 8 PM IST.