Kannada news channel TV9 Kannada has thanked its viewers and advertisers on its ninth anniversary.
On Wednesday, the channel released a short video message thanking its views and tweeted:
The news channel, from the Hyderabad-based Associated Broadcasting Company Limited, was launched in 2006, and has dominated the state television news even though it was not the first Kannada news channel. Udaya News in Kannada was launched in 1994, although it was not a 24x7 channel.
Every year on its anniversary, the channel has released a set of bloopers – blunders or funny moments recorded by its staff on the job. However, this year’s blooper does not appear to have been released. Watch this blooper from December 2009, where a python encircles the neck of a reporter for a story about different snakes:
TV9 Kannada has consistently maintained high TRPs, and has been ahead of the channel with the second highest ratings by a high margin.
However, the channel has had a chequered history. Known for sting operations, which do not always appear to be ethical, it has also set the tone for television journalism in the state. In 2014, two journalists with TV9 were arrested, allegedly for blackmailing Energy Minister DK Shivakumar. The minister had alleged that the two journalists had attempted to bribe him over a proposed project.
The channel has also been accused of targeting ministers without reason and running campaigns against them. In February this year, the channel was taken off air in several parts of the state by cable operators allegedly at the behest of Shivakumar.
The news channel also remains the only one to have a dedicated show for women called Ladies Club, which is aired on Monday afternoon. Whether or not it contributes to the situation of women is debatable as the topics for the show are generally focused on make-up, fashion, maintenance of dogs, cooking and the like.