Know the Reason Behind the Decline Of Quality Content On Indian Television

 

Source- MxMindia

History Of Indian Television

When Indian small-screen programming first debuted in the 1980s, there was only one government-owned national channel, Doordarshan. The first significant television shows to be made were The Ramayana and The Mahabharata. The viewership numbers for this serial peaked at a record high for a single show. More and more people began purchasing televisions during the late 1980s.

In India, television has been around for almost 40 years. It spread slowly for the first 17 years, and most transmissions were in black and white. The country's thinkers and decision-makers believed that television was a luxury that Indians could live without after being freed from decades of colonial rule. A Cabinet resolution prohibiting foreign investment in the print media was adopted in 1955 and has been steadfastly upheld for nearly 45 years. Only 676,615 TV sets were purchased up until 1977, according to the licences given to purchasers.

The need for new programme software to fill the broadcast hours increased due to India's quick expansion of television technology. Program creation, which had previously been restricted to Doordarshan, India's government-run national television system, was subsequently made available to a diverse group of aspiring producers, directors, and technicians. The majority of the gifted people became involved with the television industry.

Hum Log, a highly successful television soap opera that debuted in 1984–1985 at Doordarshan, ignited a programming revolution. The primary takeaway from this experience was that an indigenous television programme might draw in and develop a sizable, devoted audience throughout the serial, leading to significant financial gains. Maggi 2-Minute Noodles, a brand-new consumer product in India, was promoted in the campaign run by Hum Log.

The Decline Of Quality Content

The Indian television industry has seen tremendous growth over the past few decades, with an increasing number of channels and an expanding audience. However, this growth has come at the cost of quality content. In the race to draw viewers, television channels have resorted to airing low-grade shows that lack the production values and substance of the high-quality content that used to be the hallmark of Indian television. The rise of reality shows is one of the main factors contributing to the decline in the quality of Indian television. 

These shows, which often involve participants performing tasks for the audience’s amusement, have become extremely popular, offering low-cost entertainment that appeals to a wide audience. However, these shows often lack the depth of character development and story arcs that viewers had come to expect from high-quality scripted shows.

The proliferation of soap operas is another major factor behind the decline in quality content on Indian television. While these shows initially provided viewers with a window into the lives of characters they could relate to, they have since become bogged down in storylines that are often filled with melodrama and clichés. This has led to a decrease in viewership, as viewers become increasingly disillusioned by the lack of originality. 

The growth of satellite television has also hurt the quality of content on Indian television. With so many channels competing for the same viewers, the pressure to create content that will draw ratings has led to channels airing low-budget, low-quality shows. This has resulted in a decrease in the overall quality of content on Indian television, as viewers are presented with a plethora of shows that lack substance.

Increase Of Streaming Platforms

Finally, the trend of digital streaming services has also harmed the quality of content on Indian television. With streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hotstar offering viewers an ever-growing library of content, many viewers are now turning away from traditional television in favour of these services. This has resulted in a decrease in viewership for traditional television networks, leading to a decrease in the quality of content they can produce. 

The decline of quality content on Indian television is a result of several factors, from the rise of reality shows to the increased availability of digital streaming services. However, this decline is not irreversible, and television networks can reverse the trend by investing in high-quality, original content. By doing so, they can ensure that viewers continue to have access to the kind of content that has been the hallmark of Indian television for decades.

Written by- Hanshu Varandani