The Latest Buzz: Online News Videos

The last one month saw 2 of the biggest media houses in the country, NDTV and The Times Group, transform their presence online. Both of them went for a complete overhaul of their websites, ndtv.com and timesofindia.com respectively. A lot has changed, but the feature I would focus on is the free video content (clips from the corresponding news channels) that has been made available on these websites. The only other significant player in this space is CNN-IBN through its website ibnlive.com. Infact my guess is that it was the emergence of ibnlive.com as the first amongst equals (mainly due to its free video content), that forced others to follow suit.

This new development is surely a blessing for all those desis spread across the globe, who crave for quality news videos from the homeland. But having said that, it has affected me, a resident, in no small way either. It was for the first time in many years that election results of an important state like UP were declared, I had time, but still I was not glued to the TV to catch all the action, the reactions, and the analysis. On a daily basis also, no longer do I hurry home to watch my favourite shows on news channels -- 'The Big Fight', 'Walk the Talk' or for that matter simply 'The 9'o clock News'. Instead, every evening before going off to sleep, I log on to the 3 websites I mentioned in the first paragraph and watch whatever I wish to (of course I need a good broadband connection to be able to do that).

This new way of doing things allows me to choose what I want to watch, rather than force me to see what is being shown as is the case with a TV. It also enables me to catch up with news, interviews, talk shows and specials that were aired at times when I was busy or unaware (its increasingly becoming difficult to track everything of interest that is aired on news channels). Last but not the least, it saves me from the commercial breaks that are a must while watching a TV.

On the flip side, a poor download speed can spoil the entire experience (though there are ways to get around it like pausing the video and letting the buffering complete). Some might complain that the resolution is poor in the full screen mode (in the normal node, the video box is very small). Others may say that it kills the experience of watching the TV together with the family.

Ultimately its a matter of individual choice and feasibility. Remember its not being forced on you. If you find merit in it (as I do) then use it, otherwise continue the same old way.

I personally feel that its a very good development. It is something that was long overdue. In has finally arrived and it is here to stay. It will grow and grow at a rapid rate. So, be ready for more of it!