Infotainment for the family

Mr. Kiran Karnik is an unusual face among those behind the country's satellite TV revolution. But he looks tailor- made when it comes to Discovery channel. Interestingly, one can see a merger of the interests of Discovery and Mr. Karnik.

The man who was a part of India's satellite communications system, the Kheda Communication Project and the Indo-U.S. satellite instructional TV experiment is now the main force behind Discovery in India. Though, the Indian content on the channel cannot rise out of proportion, Mr. Karnik can change the Indian stereotype of international channels. ``I don't want it to be exotica,'' he tells G. Pramod Kumar.

OTHER THAN the content of the channel, what makes Discovery unique? ``Even if one is watching the channel without its logo, one should realise within minutes that it is Discovery'': answers Mr. Karnik. For the same reason, selecting programmes for Discovery is a mammoth task.

``I get interesting programmes from many Indian documentary film- makers. But the form does not match the technical and the aesthetic qualities and the personality of the channel''. The channel wants more Indian programmes, but not ``Indianised ones''. ``We want the programme to be seen in cities like New York and London''.

But increasing Indian content is not a good business strategy. ``Unfortunately it is the other way round''.

According to Mr. Karnik, who was with the space establishment for more than two decades, people in the country watch the channel, not for the Indian content, but for those from various parts of the world. They like wildlife, Science and Technology and culture.

These interests have hooked 15 million households to the channel in India. And its spread in the ``C centres'' has swelled ``tremendously''. The international audience avidly look up to India for wildlife and culture.

The increasing interest in the channel is assisted by efforts to present them in Indian languages. Meticulously dubbed in Hindi, the channel is now a hit in the rural heartland too. In its future options, which will be closely linked to their economic viability, Tamil will have a high priority.

A conversation with this communication expert and an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, does not confine to the channel or its most awaited exploration programme this year, ``Raising the Mammoth''. Instead, he looks up to the future of television programming and technology and the future of digital era itself.

Though film has been the preferred choice for high quality visuals, digital video is now a close competitor.

He believes that in near future, the latter will replace film, both in terms of quality and flexibility of the medium. In five to ten years, digital format will be the standard for everything.

Film distribution could be done through satellites simultaneously to thousands of theatres all over the world, there could be holographic projection, interactive TV and multi-angle options. ``Some of them are already happening''.

But the question is not about technical feasibility, but ``how much is it useful''.

Though the computer screen is projected as the presiding deity in the digital convergence of media, Mr. Karnik thinks, TV will have its pre-eminent place as it puts the viewer in a ``lean back mode'' as compared to the ``lean on mode''.

But that does not give him any chance to ``lean back''. There is enough to keep him always ``lean on''. Speaking at national institutions, education and review of the functioning of Prasar Bharathi are some of them.

Mr.Kiran Karnik

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