ONE-OF-A-KIND DEAL: GOA SURGES ON NATIONAL TV

Photo Credits: TGphoto

PANAJI
A historic and one-of-a-kind agreement was signed on Friday between the number one news and television channel in Goa, Prudent Media and India Ahead, a nationwide English News Channel promoted by Andhra Prabha Media Group at an informal function held at Cidade de Goa in Panaji. With this game changing bond and relationship, the state of Goa would begin a new journey in the national news and television industry. The agreement would unleash and open a new page that would be at par with the national electronic media as far as to news and entertainment is concerned.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant while speaking as chief guest at the deal signing ceremony between the two media outlets lamented that Goa never got the recognition due to it nationally. 

He hoped that the coverage of Goa through this collaboration would potray the events in the State on the national scape and thus help attract more tourists.

The content sharing deal will enable Prudent's content about Goa to be broadcast through a national sattelite channel and other digital platforms of India Ahead. 

Eminent journalist Bhupendra Chaubey spoke on how India Ahead became the voice of the states in India. “The story of India is about what’s happening in the Indian states. We wish to create a new chapter and embark on a territory that no-one has looked at in the past. As we have witnessed that nobody is talking about the states, I thought we should do it. This is the first step and we would build on this. Together, Prudent and India Ahead would become the voice of the states at the national level,” said Chaubey.

Pramod Acharya, editor, Prudent Media thanked India Ahead and Andhra Prabha Group for offering a platform to Goa, to be on the national news front. “Goa always deserved it but never got a chance to get space in the national coverage. This is a good beginning and Goa is ready for this experiment. India is a diverse country and we cherish it. Let’s show what Goa is on the national channel,” said Acharya.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Joe Luis, director Fomento Media, expressed hope that Goa would no longer depend on the coverage of national electronic media and have its own space on the bigger canvas. “The bond between Prudent Media and India Ahead would change the narrative now and Goa will be beautifully presented to the world. India Ahead is a serious media house and our relationship would bring in a new hope in the media set-up. Prudent and its editor Pramod Acharya, are clear when it comes to giving news. Prudent gives news and not too much of opinion. We leave it to the people to have their own views and opinions. One has to be a part of the system and not swim against the flow,” assured Joe Luis to the selective audience that comprised of editors and media personnel from Goa and outside.

Co-hosting the event, Arjun Pandey, noted Indian filmmaker and president, Marketing and Sales as well as Strategic Management & Ideas for India Ahead, welcomed the audience. The dignitaries on the dais – Goutam Mootha, Managing director, Andhra Prabha Publications, Dr Pramod Sawant, chief minister of Goa, Bhupendra Chaubey, editor-in-chief, India Ahead news channel and Andhra Prabha Publications and Pramod Acharya, editor, Prudent Media were felicitated in a Telangana style, adorning them with shawls. Arjun Pandey, the prime face behind carving this relationship between Prudent Media and India Ahead, expressed that this bond between two media houses will change the media game for both.

The event was attended by Govind Bene, director, finance at Fomento Group, Sudhir Kerkar, director, Information and Publicity, Shrinivas Rao, CEO, Lupin Goa, Shrinivas Naik, casino operator in Goa, industrialist Jose who is into e-waste management, Atul Joshi, CEO, Dilip Buildcon, Joel Afonso, editor, The Goan Everyday, Sanjay Dhavalikar, editor, Goan Varta, Kishor Gaonkar, editor Goan Varta Live, Pandurang Gaonkar, editor, Bhaangarbhuin, Sagar Chawan, editor, Sindhudurg Live and Suresh, executive editor

Expressing his joy over the signing of the agreement between Prudent Media and India Ahead, to become Goa Ahead as one voice of the States, Goutam Mootha, managing director, Andhra Prabha Publications stated that just like him, his colleagues too are experiencing excitement and optimism on the future of the two companies that have entered into an agreement today. Mootha shared about the history of Andhra Prabha, which was started by late Ramnath Goyanka in 1938 to take the movement of independence ahead and be the voice of the Indians.

India Ahead channel carries news, current affairs, entertainment, sport and business programming from Indian as well as international perspective. It’s the first English news channel to be beamed out of South India. For over 80 years, The Andhra Prabha Publication Group has been synonymous with excellence in journalism and commitment to independence and fairness in reportage. With the diversification of its enriched brand portfolio, Andhra Prabha entered into the space of broadcasting with an Indian television channel dedicated to English news, having headquarters in Hyderabad. The tagline of India Ahead is ‘It’s Good News’ which highlights the vision to look ahead and aim to inform and influence in making a better India for the generation to come.