Drive past main roads and larger than life hoardings greet you — public places, advertisements on the back of public transport welcome you with an announcement of something new. But if you were to stop and think, many of these are not showing at cinemas! That is also the case when the television is turned on. Not movie posters or trailers, they are new programmes, shows and soaps set to hit the small screen soon. With new-age television reaching huge audiences through multiple television channels, publicity has become one of the major tools to seek the attention of a TV audience. Grand scale making of shows and gaining revenue through advertisements is a game changer and no stone is left unturned. Bengaluru Chronicle reports.
“Unlike the past, the small screen is not “small” in present day context. In fact, it is as big as the world of cinema. Typical movie business at present is limited to a few days or weeks, till it sustains through popularity. Any new venture on television runs for months and years, offering something new on a daily basis. The revenue which comes along is a huge boost. Hence, publicity has become a major part of new-age television. A chunk of its production is exclusively dedicated to popularise shows, and literally grab the audience’s attention to follow such programmes,” says director Krishna.
Sree Harsha, an actor says that in the past, audiences would hardly have any idea of the new shows or programmes. “It is only when shows or soaps are changed to new ones, that the audience gets to know about them. There were hardly any channels in the past but today, there are at least a dozen which cater to various interests,” Harsha explains. However, a section of serial makers feel that instead of quality work, most present day story tellers on TV have succumbed to mere publicity without the real stuff in their work. “It has become a mini glamorous field with hardly any importance given to content. It is simply commercially-driven with a fight for TRPs,” says Sheshadri, a script writer.
However, Krishna signs off saying that change is inevitable and publicity helps cater to all audiences. “Staying connected with the audience is important, and any attempt to do is in the interest of the industry. If a show or programme is bad then the audience will automatically reject it,” he wraps up.
