“Breaking News” lost its meaning on Indian television a long time ago. Now, the meaning “Live” is in danger, too.
It is not uncommon to find the same talking heads on different TV stations holding forth on the same topic at the same time on the same day.
But an even more questionable “live” procedure is now gaining currency. Recorded interviews are patched into studio discussions to make it seem “live”. Prannoy Roy‘s NDTV did plenty of it during the election campaign.
On budget day, July 6, Arnab Goswami of Times Now took it a step further, talking “live” to the deputy chairman of the planning commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia (in picture), who clearly seemed to be in some July 4 party, with American flags hanging behind him.
IJR 