When satellite TV invaded South Asia

Funded by the Ford Foundation, the project also culminated into a book by two British authors, David Page and William Crawley. A Sage Publications book, it was launched alongside the premier of the film in the British Council on Thursday.

Apart from tracing the history of the birth of satellite revolution in the region, the book discusses the way satellite TV (read cable) is influencing the way an average South Asian defines her interest.

The book launch and the film premiere was preceded by a panel discussion by experts from the media.

The panel, comprising members from Pakistan and Bangladesh, apart from India, commented on the contents of the book.

While Kiran Karnik of Discovery Channel represented the Indian point of view, the owner of the reputed Pakistani daily Dawn, Hameed Haroon, also shared his views about the satellite phenomenon. The panel was presided by the noted columnist of The Hindu Sevanti Ninan.

Other than an occasion to get an insight into the changing faces of South Asia, captured both in print as well as on celluloid, the occasion also marked an informal get-together of the bigwigs in the media. Rare to be spotted at public gatherings, the occasion was attended by the Roys Prannoy and Radhika.