Reality bytes

Galaxy Network is now a popular name in Meerut. The TV station, set up 11 years ago to provide local news, has grown into a fully operative station with four channels: Galaxy Movie, Galaxy family, Galaxy Song on Demand and City Hulchul News. The well equipped Galaxy studio now also employs mass communications trainees.

In Saharanpur, about 120 km away, the ambitiously named Channel 9 rules. “Besides covering the town’s daily activities, we have programmes on health, education, religion... which have a deep impact on people,” says Subhash Aggarwal, head of Channel 9, set up in 2008. A journalist with 25 years of experience, he launched his channel with help from a cable operator friend, who financed the project with an initial investment of Rs 12 lakh.

Now, revenue comes from advertisements and ‘programmes on request’. ‘Local reality shows’ are a hit, too. “Many participants went to shows like Boogie Woogie only after they had been in our reality shows,” claims Aggarwal.

Like Galaxy, Channel 9 earns its revenue from local ads. However, a common problem among such channels in Uttar Pradesh is that they are at the mercy of the district magistrate, because no licenses are issued to local channels. “We are demanding that local channels in UP be legalised, as they are in other states,” says Aggarwal.

GALAXY NETWORK, Meerut
Wow factor: Strong development focus

CHANNEL 9, Saharanpur
Wow factor: Run reality shows that throw up national talent