Chennai: New Gen Media has already launched Puthiya Thalaimurai, the successful Tamil news channel besides a Tamil magazine, Puthiya Thalaimurai. The group which is making waves in the Tamil Nadu media scene, is all set to launch a General Entertainment Channel (GEC) in Tamil, reveals New Gen Media CEO Shyam Kumar in a freewheeling interview to R.Rangaraj of tvnews4u.com, unveiling the channel name — Pudhu Yugam (New Generation):
Q: New Gen Media has launched Puthiya Thalaimurai, a successful Tamil news channel, having already made an impact on the print scene with Puthiya Thalaimurai magazine. We hear a GEC channel is in the offing?
A: That is true. We are making plans to launch a General Entertainment Channel (GEC) in Tamil, having already tasted success with Puthiya Thalaimurai, the news channel in Tamil. As an entertainment channel, it will be path-breaking.
Q: What will it be called?
A: Pudhu Yugam ( New Era).
Q: When is the launch?
A: It would be before the festival season, before Deepavali for sure.
Q: How will you be different? How do you plan to make a mark?
A: We will provide a new experience in entertainment. It will be truly path-breaking. It will typically be an engagement channel – will engage the viewers.
Q: Puthiya Thalaimurai magazine was especially targeted at the youth – an effort to create a new readership. Will the Tamil GEC also target the youth?
A: Pudhu Yugam will cover every section of society. Not just the youth. It will engage every section of the audience. Right from kids to elders.
Q: When you say elders, will there be programmes on religion etc?
A: As a matter of policy we will not touch religion or astrology. We will not enter the religion space. However, viewers of all ages will have something to look out for in the channel.
Q: Will you have soaps – the staple diet for a GEC?
A; We will have fiction. That is all I can reveal at the moment.
Q: Reality shows? Can u do without them?
A: There would be shows but they would be redefined. Not run-of-the-mill reality shows. Yes, music , cinema and entertainment and so on. But they will come redefined. We are blessed with one of the best teams possible. B Kailasam, Channel Head, and son of veteran director K Balachander, and who has tremendous experience in production and administration in the field of television in Tamil Nadu, has a wonderful team, passionate and dedicated.
Q: There are so many GECs out there on the Tamil Nadu scene. How will you tackle the competition?
A: There’s always space for everyone. Especially if you are good. We believe in the Blue Ocean Strategy (expand the pond) and create space for yourself rather than follow the Red Ocean Strategy (where there is bloodshed in fighting for existing space).
Q: Any special plans for the launch?
A: It will not be a soft launch. It’ll be a launch that Tamil Nadu will experience and celebrate. It will be a 360 degree campaign – a visual treat for sure. By R. Rangaraj
