TOI: Telly tubbies --- IPK an internet craze

Tellytubbies

Availability of shows on the Internet has kept the netizens hooked to TV on the virtual platform

Navya Malini


Missed an episode of your favourite telly soap or an action packed reality show No need to fret.Well,you are just a click away to catch up with all the missed action.With Internet viewing and live show streaming by channels gaining popularity,a chunk of net savvy generation is taking viewing content online to a whole new level.
Picture this.Muchtalked about show Satyamev Jayate anchored by Aamir Khan opened a new chapter in internet viewing as the shows episodes uploaded on the web received a fan following much beyond any popular imagination.From lifestyle shows to fiction and non-fiction shows,all the genres find a unique place on the web.While TRP trippers apart from the prime time equally get their share of eyeballs on Internet.Shows like Jhalak Dikhla Ja,Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon,Devon Ke Dev Mahadev,Balika Vadhu et al are equally popular with the number of hits that each respective episode gets on the web.

With the smartphone generation looking at the tablet as the mode to stay tuned,shows as well as showmakers seem to be getting aware of the potential that Web offers.You have official sites on the Internet uploading latest episodes of shows and of course,some channels even have live streaming of content on their respective websites which only makes the web one of the hottest destination for watching tubes various tales.While the flip side being the potential threat of piracy and not enough ways to mapping the Internet viewership.
On whether Internet viewing of TV content is going to be the next big thing,there is still uncertainty,but industry experts believe its going to make a difference in the future.Producerwriter Raakesh Paswan says,Internet viewership may not be in at the moment,but with access to the latest episodes,may be five years down the line internet viewing could be seen as a potential creative market.
Amid the issues of piracy,showmakers as well as channels feel there is a need to provide original content on the web today.Anurag Bedi,business head of a leading English GEC says,It would be presumptuous to say piracy does not affect us.The English GEC genre has been on a growth curve for some time now.Considering that a majority of our viewers are wired individuals,the urge to download the latest seasons is tremendous.But the biggest problem with pirated downloads is their quality.Lately,the initiative by the I n t e r n e t S e r v i c e Providers (ISP) to block the illegal file sharing sites is a step in the right direction. Ajit Thakur,general manager of a renowned Hindi GEC says,Making content available on all platforms is the motive behind uploading show content on the web.Moreover,it ensures that the content is right. Availability of content on the web to the end user facilitates easy viewing say many.Actor Gaurav Khanna says,Whats not available on the Internet Internet viewing becomes the best mode to catch up with the missed episodes. With marketers and advertisers looking towards the new age media as the potential place to product or service visibility,tube can nonetheless think of innovative moves to grab more eyeballs.
navya.maliniyv@timesgroup.com