Enter — Now IT on the tube 24 hours

TMG or Technology Media Group, a company run by a husband-wife team, is soon to launch a 24-hour channel — first of its kind in India — from Bangalore and up-linking from Delhi initially. “Info-tech is the only hope for India,” explains Nivedita Mukerjee, Content Director for TMG. “Besides, the purpose of this channel is to provide tech knowledge that brings about qualitative changes in your life,” she adds.

Mukerji and her husband Shubhanjan Sarkar hit upon the idea after a close interaction with the IT industry. Mukerji had earlier worked with Zee TV and Sarkar was heavily into IT journals and technology writing. Besides, the two were already producing IT Hour, an information technology programme for CNBC-Asia. “We realised that technology has entered into every sphere of our lives and the sooner people came to terms with this reality the faster things would move for them,” says Mukerji.

A venture capital funding from Delhi-based RCTC (Risk Capital Technological Corporation) helped crystallise the project. And being in Bangalore, the IT capital of the country, helped. However, the million dollar question is: how will the group sustain a 24-hour channel? Besides, how many people are interested in an exclusive channel on science and technology?

Mukerji is very optimistic. She feels people would be interested because now computers is required for something as basic as writing a letter. “With your son and daughter abroad that’s the only means of keeping in touch,” she says. And the software for the channel?

That again will include technology-based educational programmes, interactive sessions, gameshows, sci-fi films, serials and more. All the production will be in-house and after three months of uplinking from Delhi, VSNL has promised TMG uplinking from Bangalore. If all goes well, TMG will be the first channel to be uplinked from Bangalore.

The channel will also focus on programmes in regional languages to make technology available at the grassroots level. A special feature for the physically challenged is also on the cards. TMG also claims to be a “viewer-friendly” channel. “We know of IT companies that would willingly sponsor computers and other equipment for the disabled or the under-privileged,” says Mukerjee. “For instance, a Braille printer costs more than Rs 2 lakh and we could provide information to the visually challenged on companies willing to sponsor such things,” she adds.

But despite the initial euphoria, TMG will have to work extra time if this channel is to be a success. Technology is growing at breakneck speed but in a country where two square meals a day is still an issue, TMG will have to mind the speed-breakers.