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Nithya Subramanian

Jules Fuller, a media executive, says that programming should be compelling enough for children to be interested.

For Jules Fuller, the man who was at the helm of Channel [V] six years ago, and is presently Consultant Executive Producer with Initial (part of production company Endemol), and also works with kids' channel POGO, the Indian broadcasting space is getting exciting by the day. "The kids market is young, just like it was in the UK 40-50 years ago. While there are extraordinary ideas on local programming coming, and lots of competition happening in this genre, the music channels are quite disappointing — they could do with some drastic changes," he says in a freewheeling chat.

Music channels are primarily being driven by Hindi music. "There is very little good and happening Indi-pop. Besides Rabbi and Strings, I cannot think of any other pop artist or group that will make me stop and listen," he says. Recalling his days at Channel [V], he says the 24-hour music channel not only helped create the Indi-pop genre, but also massively raised international artists' profile and sales in the country.

Giving a thumbs-up to remixes (only the music), Fuller says, "I went to a nightclub and the remixes were extraordinary." But there is a dearth of quality artists, he adds. Talent-hunt contests could help identify and nurture new talent. Endemol has launched Fame Gurukul, yet another show scouting for singers on Sony Entertainment Television. "The bottomline is that channels need to take the risk of putting resources behind a new artist," he says.

However, the kids' space seems to be doing well. Talking about his own creation, M.A.D. (Music, Art and Dance), India's first art show, Fuller says that the response from kids has been phenomenal. "Programming has to be compelling enough for children to be interested. I do not like the term `edutainment', but the shows should be involving." Otherwise, soaps like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi would continue to have a stranglehold on children as well.

And like all broadcasters, he too believes that interactive television is the way forward. With kids having greater access to telephone and Internet, convergence of technologies will be inevitable.

Straddling India and the UK, he is currently working on an Initial-formatted game-show Bam Bam Bam Gir Pade Hum for POGO. He is also involved with two newly commissioned projects, The UK Music Hall Of Fame for Channel 4 and the Hans Christian Anderson Birthday Celebrations.

Sensitive news coverage

The BBC's coverage of the recent blasts in London, refraining from any kind of sensationalism that could create panic among the general public, should give some food for thought to Indian news channels as far as coverage of tragic events go. Neither did the news channel show any gruesome images nor did it speculate on the number of casualties. In fact, the broadcaster played a facilitating role in the rescue efforts. We could learn a lot when it comes to sensitivity while interviewing victims of such tragedies.

Competing for that `hot seat'

With less than a month for the beginning of the second season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the initial response seems to be quite encouraging. Star Plus registered 15 million calls within 10 days from viewers seeking to occupy the `hot seat'. For now, it seems that the sequel might just be as successful as the first offering.

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