How has the TV industry changed in 2008?

The year 2008 was a mix of the good, bad and the ugly for the TV industry. So how much change has the TV industry actually gone through? We caught up with a few TV stars to find out.

Achint Kaur – It hasn't changed much but is moving and striving for change. It has been in a process of experimentation but has also stagnated. To put it in a nutshell, the industry is in a confused state.

Ekta Sharma – It has changed to some extent – moreover post-strike, the actors suffered a lot. And I was really bored without work at that time. I hope that doesn't happen again. Lat year was quite good and I hope that this year is better and we see some nice serials like 'Balika Vadhu'.

Bhavana Balsaver – Changes have happened quite a bit. We have seen reality shows taking over. There has been a major transition and 'Balika Vadhu' on Colors is an example. The strike was a setback and there were losses too but change is a constant thing. There is definitely something positive in store, I think. Hopefully this year has more variety for the viewers.

Jaya Bhattacharya – We saw a lot of reality shows and channels too. Things went quite well last year; all old formats gave way to a lot of new shows. The mind of the audience changes and always welcomes change.

Sukirti Khandpal – Everything was the same and there were no changes except the strike.

Ratna Sinha – Honestly speaking, there was not much of a change. Just that our awareness levels have got higher and we are heading towards change. After the strike, there has been clarity about certain rights like the duties of every individual.

Rajan Shahi – There have been major functional changes. Of course, there was a mix of good and bad but ultimately, I believe that all the bad happens for the good.
The strike and recession have played major roles in the changes. Quality has taken precedence over quantity – having an n-number of shows will diminish and qualitative shows will take over. The number of shows will be restricted and the script and content will be the priority. Gone are the days when the strength of the shows was the actors but now everybody is a facilitator and the strength lies in the quality.
There has also been a change in attitude because of the market conditions. It is a survival of the fittest situation and people have to give more than their money.