Three years back former IAS Pawan Arora created ripples in Rajasthan media industry by taking voluntary retirement to join his brother Jagdeesh Chandra, again former IAS and now media baron, in First India News channel as CEO and Managing Editor. Chandra was the Editor-in-Chief, Chairman and Managing Director and he still is.
Now after three years again ripples have been created as Arora equalled his brother's position. But in a different channel, which he bought out. Arora called it quits at First India News and graduated from being a serving professional to owner of Sach Bedhadak, a news channel grappling with financial issues.
With this media landscape of Rajasthan has become even more challenging but more vibrant. In three years, Pawan Arora has taken First India News to a new height through his acumen. He has increased revenue, introduced event based platforms and ventured into Over The Top (OTT) – the first for any regional media house offering entertainment news and live shows simultaneously and directly to viewers.
Arora has learnt the ropes well at First India News and like his brother Jagdeesh Chandra – ‘The Turnaround Man' of Regional Media – has become a formidable name in media industry.
What will happen next?
In a short period of three years, Arora has shown lot of promise and potential. He had always been considered a man of delivery in his bureaucracy days. And at First India News also, he delivered more than what was expected from him. Now with free hands and fresh ideas, Arora has an opportunity to equal his brother in stature also or may ahead of him in times to come. Media experts are watching closely moves of Arora as he has already proven his calibre not only at First India but also at Gangaur TV which he had bought six months back, while working in First India. Gangaur TV is the first Rajasthani channel of the state and it is said to have achieved break even in first six months of operation.
Fight for eyeballs and government revenue
There are many existing and established regional channels in the state – First India, Zee Rajasthan, News-18, NDTV Rajasthan and India News besides other small time local players. Sach Bedhadak till now is also a small time news channel with a narrow bandwidth. The challenge before Arora would be not only to grab attention of public but also to create revenue stream for the channel, which is in financial mess struggling to pay even salaries.
“Arora has a charismatic personality. He has great contacts in state government, real estate and corporates. He can turnaround this situation to create a new chapter in annals of regional channels,” said a senior journalist working with Arora and Jagdeesh Chandra.
Alok Mathur is a law graduate. Journalism is his first love which he now pursues in the latter half of his career. Controversies and crime are the right triggers for him.
