Indian entertainment industry to generate Rs 1,10,000 crore by 2017

Shimla, Apr 26 (UNI) The Indian entertainment industry is poised for a massive growth and is expected to generate Rs 1,10,000 crore by 2017, noted media expert Ashok Ogra said.

''Over 500 TV channels and over 600 FM radio stations will be available to Indian viewers in the next four to five years,'' he said, while addressing journalism students of International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL), here.

Quoting latest FICCI-PWC (Price waterhouse Coopers) report, Mr Ogra, who is also Discovery Channel's vice president, said the entertainment industry would generate about Rs 1,10,000 crore in the next nine to ten years due to the presence of large number of TV channels and radio stations.

He also referred to the increasing de-massification and fragmentation of audiences due to the options available to viewers and audiences, unlike in the past when only Doordarshan was available.

''The next wave, that we will see, will be that of citizen journalist, narrow and personal casting leading to greater empowerment and control by the audience over the media and its content,'' he said.

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