Channeling Cultures : Television Studies from India

Television is probably the most important mass medium in India today. In this pioneering volume of television studies reputed scholars from across the globe address a series of questions that help us gain a deeper understanding of its nature and function within contemporary Indian society: What makes television occupy a pivotal place in India's public and private cultures? How has television changed from the early days of Doordarshan to the current age of set top boxes and hundreds of channels? What makes news, soap opera and Reality TV an integral part of our daily lives? Why is our popular culture so orchestrated by the 4 Cs (cricket, crime, cinema and celebrity)? Why is television indispensable at times of crises like a 'terrorist' attack? How different is regional television from its national and global counterparts? By analyzing different aspects of content, policy, and broadcasting philosophy, the volume enables the reader to arrive at a deeper understanding of the role television plays in representing and constructing Indian modernity.