Television: Programme Production

Published by Emil Abraham,


There are a large number of television news channels in the Indian media today. Some of these channels tend be ‘news-centric’, which means that they believe in traditional journalistic content and prefer to have more news-content in their broadcasts. On the other hand, there are also ‘news-plus’ channels, which try to beat the competition offered from other channels by offering their audiences not just news, but something extra. As a result, many news channels do not just show news; they also show lifestyle programmes and other entertainment-based shows.
Programmes on television can be either live or packaged. Just as there is live and packaged news, likewise, there are live programmes, which are telecast as the action happens, and there are packaged programmes, which are produced first and telecast later.
The making of a television programme takes place according to the following steps. The first two steps are the same as those in the making of live shows.
  1. As in all television production work, there is a creative team, comprising of the Producer, Associate Producers, Assistant Producers and technical crew including camerapersons and the staff in the PCR. The Producer in television performs the same role as a Director in filmmaking. In other words, he or she creatively conceptualizes and designs the show, and organizes and coordinates how the entire creative team works. In practice, a Producer may be working on several shows at the same time, and may thus include a number of Associate Producers in the team for help. The role of the Associate Producer is to direct the making of individual shows. The Assistant Producer, who is a junior member of the team, helps the Associate Producer in the groundwork and actual execution. 

  2. The making of a programme starts in the mind of the Producer, who conceptualizes and designs the show and then writes a Proposal. The Proposal includes details like the Concept, Structure, Treatment, Research and Budget. The proposal is then formally presented to the management of the news channel, which approves it or suggests modifications. After the due modifications are made and the proposal is approved, the programme is ready to be made. 

  3. The Producer then prepares a document called a Rundown. The Rundown is a list of what appears on screen at what point in time during the playback or telecast of the programme. It is thus a plan for the programme, and the final programme will be made according to it. 

  4. Sufficient research is carried out for the making of the initial episode of the programme, known as the pilot episode. Locations are visited, the script is written, appointments and permissions are taken, and the amount of money required for the making of the show is secured from the management. This is called pre-production. 

  5. The actual shooting takes place, on as many locations as necessary. 

  6. After the shoot, tapes are logged, and OK takes are captured in the hard disk 
of the editing terminal where editing has to take place. 

  7. Voice-overs are recorded and captured, and all the elements of the 
programme are put together in the correct sequence according to the 
Rundown. This is called making the Rough Cut. 

  8. The Rough Cut version of the programme is then fine-tuned. Audio-levels 
are adjusted, clips are trimmed and the programme is given its final shape. This is called making the Fine Cut. 

  9. After the pilot episode is ready, it is shown to the management, who may approve it or suggest further changes. After due changes, when the pilot episode is approved, the programme is ready for regular production as a series. The pilot episode is not meant to be broadcast. The actual first episode of the programme, which goes on air, is the one, which is prepared next, according to the design and model of the pilot episode.