Modi government contemplating a digital platform for India's voice

Narendra Modi government is considering the launch of a high-end digital platform to give a platform to "India's point of view and perspective on global events on the Internet".

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The operating cost of this channel is pegged around Rs 75 crore.

A committee comprising of Sunil Alagh and Shashi Shekar Vempati (members of Prasar Bharati Board), R. Jagannathan (Editorial Director, Swarajya magazine), Vamsee Juluri (Professor, University of San Francisco), Rajeev Singh (interim CEO of Prasar Bharati) and Ritesh Bawri (management expert), which was headed by Prasar Bharati chairman, A Surya Prakash, and the Prasar board recently discussed the idea and approved it. The concept was conceived by Shashi Shekar Vempati.

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The concept note of the channel says that it "will challenge the anti-India narrative in foreign media through hard and compelling commentary, challenge stereotypes attributed to Indian systems and put forward the India perspective".

This channel will be the go-to point for "the Indian voice" for global opinion makers, influencers, domestic media, India-focused researchers, global academia and think tanks, Surya Prakash told ET.

Initially, the idea of such global news channel was thought of in the time of the UPA government, but was never initiated.

"It couldn't happen earlier for whatever reason. But this is the right time to have a global media presence," Surya Prakash said.

The goals that have been set for this channel for three years from its launch are: 10 to 100 million page views a month, 1 million mobile app downloads, and 1 million YouTube subscribers.

(Image source Two Circles)