NDTV 24x7 is a 24-hour English-language television news channel based in New Delhi, India.
History
Until about the end of the 1980s, like most of the world, television broadcasting was not in private hands in India. In the news production area there were some private stringers for Doordarshan. The freelancers were given assignments to cover news and later they were also involved in current affairs programmes and documentaries.
1988: New Delhi Television was set up by Prannoy Roy – a former professor of economics at the University of Delhi – and his wife and business partner Radhika Roy. The Roys are today known for helping to break the Indian government's grip on television news.
New Delhi Television started producing The World This Week, a highly successful weekly news magazine covering world news and entertainment for Doordarshan. NDTV's coverage of Tiananmen Square and the fall of the Berlin Wall was path-breaking in Indian television reporting and gave it brand recognition. NDTV quickly established as a credible private news provider. NDTV catered their programmes to Doordarshan and later for CNN and BBC. Unlike the television wing of PTI and United News of India, this private news production enterprise was largely successful.
1989: NDTV produces India's first televised coverage of general elections results with analysis.
1995: NDTV became India's first private producer of the national news with telecast of "Tonight" on Doordarshan.
Joint venture
1996: Since the Indian legislation required a majority Indian ownership for news broadcasters, Star commissions NDTV to provide supply news content to Star News.
1998: Star India sets up the Star News channel, India's first 24-hour news channel [with NDTV] to coincide with the general elections. Star News (English/Hindi) made a big impact on behalf of the global Murdoch network, winning larger audiences in India than longer-established broadcasters such as CNN and BBC. Although Star News had the Star platform, the news was not produced in-house. NDTV provided all the news material- both in Hindi and English - including its presentation and packaging for Star. By this mutually beneficial partnership NDTV could reach homes of affluent Indians through the Star platform, while Star could benefit from the gravitas of a serious news channel.
As part of the Star bouquet of channels, Star News remained dependent on its relationship with Murdoch and vulnerable to changes in Star's strategy. As the end of its contract with Star approached, NDTV considered a number of possibilities to broaden its appeal and its revenue. Star had already been downplaying NDTV's profile. Its contract with NDTV did not give Star editorial control, and Star's management were uneasy when India government criticised NDTV for its reporting of the Gujarat riots in 2002.
New channels
2003: With the end of its contract with Star, NDTV launched its own news channels in English (NDTV 24x7) and Hindi (NDTV India). Star TV was keen to renew NDTV's contract but was no longer willing to give it full editorial control. Star retained the Star News brand, but channel continued only in Hindi. Media observers expected that NDTV would struggle to survive on its own. After much speculation about its future, it announced a distribution partnership with Sony Entertainment Television's One World Alliance. This alliance with Sony gave NDTV a strong base from which to establish a new profile.
NDTV had been a success story in terms of influence, but its recent criticism of the Indian government has led to the depletion of its viewship. Star's decision [after it ended its contract with NDTV] to concentrate on Hindi news bulletins and to drop its English service is also a significant indicator of the balance between profitability and influence in the crowded Indian television news market. NDTV has been on a cost-cutting spree for several quarters now, as it seeks to stay relevant in a competitive market.
2005: NDTV launched business news channel NDTV Profit.
Distribution network
NDTV channels have an overseas audience among the Indian diaspora in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Asia Pacific, the Middle East and South Africa, thanks to deals with satellite operators, such as Sky and DirecTV. To accelerate the global push, NDTV formed a joint venture with a subsidiary of Kuala Lumpur's Astro All Asia Network, taking a 20% stake. In 2006, it launched: Astro Awani, a Bahasa-language channel in Indonesia.