With the regional channels market heating up and all the major media conglomerates including Star, Zee and NDTV group already having or eyeing a stake in vernacular market, Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the apex industry body representing broadcasters, is on an expansion spree, integrating regional channels into the fold of the industry body.
In a series of meetings held in the southern cities of Hyderabad, Chennai and Cochin, and attended by the CEOs of most south-based channels, IBF has decided to form two to three sub-committees in some southern cities most likely to be stationed at Hyderabad, Chennai and Cochin to regularly take stock of issues which are local in nature and cannot be taken care of under the aegis of a national body like IBF. “This marks the beginning of a larger expansion plan. We have started by increasing membership in southern states but the plan is to go step by step to all the regions and expand IBF to address region specific issues. We are working towards inclusion of Jaya TV, Real Estate TV, Mana Telugu, India Vision, Sriya Broadcasting services, Yes India, Jain TV, Makkal TV among others,” said Naresh Chahal, secretary general, IBF.
Chahal told FE that integrating channels from North-East into IBF fold is next on cards. “The need of constituting regional sub-committee arose because the issues of one region do not find resonance in other regions. For instance, carriage fees is not an issue in Chennai while it is a major issue elsewhere. Similarly in pockets, dealing with multiple system operators take precedence, at other places local cable operators becomes a priority. “By forming such regional-level bodies, regional channels can voice their demands in a better way. Star Group is already present in Tamil, Bengali and Marathi and has plans to expand into Telugu and Gujarati space. Zee group is already present in Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Gujarati, Punjabi etc while NDTV Imagine has already announced its plan to go regional next year, yet to decide on the languages it will venture in.