When I watch Comedy Nights with Kapil or Nach Baliye or Kaun Banega Crorepati, what am I exactly paying for? Am I paying for listening to film stars talk about their films and answer stupid questions about their films? I thought I was paying for the comedy, the dances or for gaining some general knowledge.
I am surprised to see that many television shows these days, on a routine basis, showcase promotions of movies inside their shows as if those promotions were integral part of the shows. It is very similar to a news article praising a particular product, having been paid by the promoters of the product to do so, but do not clearly call out their articles as advertisements. These television shows are becoming just advertisements for movies.
If I was to see a recorded episode of Comedy Nights with Kapil on YouTube, say a year from when it was first released, will it still remain relevant? Since it is partly a film promotion, its relevance will surely deteriorate as time passes. Yet, some of the great works that TV has produced are seen again and again years after they were first seen on TV. It therefore seems that the trend these days is not to create classics but to ride a wave - a short term outlook. These shows will surely generate sufficient revenue today but they will not be probably bundled into DVDs and sold in Crossword and Landmark 10 years later. BR Chopra's Mahabharat or Prakash Dwivedi's Chanakya are sold and bought that way - a proud statement in itself; an assertion that a classic was created and is cherished even today.
Previously, when used I see a movie, I did not know anything about that movie. Someone would recommend it or I would see that its IMDB rating is quite high and then would see the movie. In fact I did not see a movie immediately after it was released. However, these days, I am shown so much about the movie that a lot of novelty is lost. I know the songs beforehand, have seen trailers, have seen the same actors so many times on TV in the context of the movie that I am left with a lot of repeat performance and therefore am bored during the movie. I cannot see how this helps the film industry.
So, here we are with a growing trend, which in my opinion, is bad for the TV industry, is bad for the film industry and is bad for me as a viewer. I no longer get more content when I watch more TV, just repeated content all over.
I am surprised to see that many television shows these days, on a routine basis, showcase promotions of movies inside their shows as if those promotions were integral part of the shows. It is very similar to a news article praising a particular product, having been paid by the promoters of the product to do so, but do not clearly call out their articles as advertisements. These television shows are becoming just advertisements for movies.
If I was to see a recorded episode of Comedy Nights with Kapil on YouTube, say a year from when it was first released, will it still remain relevant? Since it is partly a film promotion, its relevance will surely deteriorate as time passes. Yet, some of the great works that TV has produced are seen again and again years after they were first seen on TV. It therefore seems that the trend these days is not to create classics but to ride a wave - a short term outlook. These shows will surely generate sufficient revenue today but they will not be probably bundled into DVDs and sold in Crossword and Landmark 10 years later. BR Chopra's Mahabharat or Prakash Dwivedi's Chanakya are sold and bought that way - a proud statement in itself; an assertion that a classic was created and is cherished even today.
Previously, when used I see a movie, I did not know anything about that movie. Someone would recommend it or I would see that its IMDB rating is quite high and then would see the movie. In fact I did not see a movie immediately after it was released. However, these days, I am shown so much about the movie that a lot of novelty is lost. I know the songs beforehand, have seen trailers, have seen the same actors so many times on TV in the context of the movie that I am left with a lot of repeat performance and therefore am bored during the movie. I cannot see how this helps the film industry.
So, here we are with a growing trend, which in my opinion, is bad for the TV industry, is bad for the film industry and is bad for me as a viewer. I no longer get more content when I watch more TV, just repeated content all over.
