NDTV 24x7 : Is it on a decline curve?

Dear Mr. NDTV 24x7,

You have your reputation and position in Indian media today and that probably is the reason that you are always able to invite very good participants for your panel discussions. Good in the way that most of the panelists are amongst the best in their field or at least well known ones and we always look forward to know their views on various issues. Last night there were Sachin Pilot, Vinod Mehta of Outlook, Jai Dubashi, a JNU Professor, Mr Navin Jindal etc… a couple of days back Dr Kiran Bedi was there. Some time back Harish Salve, Lord Meghanand Saha, Gurcharan Das, John Tellis (Fortune) were there. And you have taken up topics as varied as Mr Chidambaram’s ‘saffron terror’ remark, MP’s Salary, Common Wealth Games, Satyam etc. etc.

But I feel the greatest undoing of your such discussions is the stature of your anchors namely Mr. Pronnoy Roy, Ms. Barkha Dutt and Mr. Chandra…… they are very senior journalists and they have a reputation of their own earned by hard work and dedication to their job over years. Besides their competency as anchors, they have their own standing and views over a particular issue. And that unfortunately is their greatest weakness today. They have their ideas and convictions and mostly show some sort of resistance in accepting fresh ideas. They seem to be not open to the different view. Not at all to the ideas which do not confirm to their ideology. Or at least that is the impression they always give and that is really bad about the issue under discussion. Not only bad for the issue that is disrespect to the panelists of such great stature as mentioned above. And disservice to the viewers who are deprived of more valued remarks from such remarkable invitees. At times it is very irritating too.

The personality and confidence of these anchors is a great disadvantage. They generally try to impose it on others, and mostly by force. Then during panel discussions they decide whom to allow to speak and for how long. You say a word to their disliking and you are cut abruptly and then two views opposing yours will be aired and the topic would be changed, again, without giving you a chance to react. Such powerful anchors are really the weak links of most of such spirited discussions.

Your channel needs to be careful not to make your best assets your worst liabilities.

Sincerely
Babel
An avid viewer of NDTV 24x7