OTV@21: The crusade continues

Odisha Television, better known as OTV, started its sojourn in April 1997 at a time when news was all about Doordarshan. Today, it has completed 21 years in free, fair and unbiased journalism. It has travelled a long way from cable channel to satellite to digital with the support and love of the people of Odisha.

At a time when reporters covered news with only film cameras and Odia news on Doordarshan was yet to reach all corners of the state, OTV started its news broadcasting via cable. Urban viewers already used to cable television, readily accepted the channel which stood out for its fine quality and unique contents.

OTV reporters were the first  to venture out into the field with their cameras and booms, which revolutionised the practice of news collection for regional television channels. This was not all - OTV was the first to introduce real-time and live coverage of news. Viewers were able to watch live coverage of different issues from the premises of Odisha Assembly and the Secretariat.

On the very day of its launch on April 18, 1997, OTV broadcasted the funeral of legendary leader Biju Patnaik. Two years later, in 1999,  OTV exposed the high-profile gang rape case of Anjana Mishra. The same year, it also telecasted the brutal murder of Graham Staines, who was burnt alive with his two sons inside a vehicle in Baripada.

Be it any breaking news or in-depth analysis, OTV has been a force to reckon with in the field of electronic media for the past two decades in Odisha.

OTV’s crusade for disseminating unbiased news with lightning speed to its viewers worldwide began when the State had faced the worst natural calamity in the form of ‘Super cyclone’ in 1999.

OTV was the only media house to have shouldered the responsibility of presenting the devastation caused by the super cyclone not only before the people of Odisha but across the globe.

Two years later, Odisha again witnessed a natural disaster in the form of floods that ravaged 24 districts in Western, Coastal and Northern parts of the State in 2001 that was widely covered by OTV.

Not only natural calamities, OTV has been instrumental in exposing several mega scams including the multi-crore mining scam of 2009. The investigation which was initially undertaken to cover irregularities by a small mine in Joda area, turned out to be a major scam involving Rs 1700 crore, also known as the Uliburu mining scam.

Similarly, investigative reports on theft of matriculation question paper in 2012 and Plus Two physics paper leak of 2013 forced the Odisha government to handover the cases to the Crime Branch.

Be it politics, sports or any other important event or incident relevant to the people of Odisha, OTV has been dedicatedly trying to keep the viewers updated with all the details upholding the ethics of journalism.

OTV ensured people get to know minute details of the Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath  of Puri Srimandir in 2016 and was the first to report the Bramha parivartan fiasco (transfer of souls).

It was OTV which had highlighted the lapses in fire safety measures after the Sum Hospital tragedy which led to the death of 21 persons on October 27, 2016.

The then Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had to resign while the owner of the hospital Manoj Nayak was arrested in connection with the incident.

Be it the non-stop coverage on the Hirakhand Express tragedy On January 22, 2017 or exclusive report on bogies of Puri-Ahmedabad express running sans engine for 15 kms in Titlagarh station, OTV has always made efforts to keep its viewers abreast of every detail at the fastest possible time.

From its beginnings in the cable television space, OTV has become one of the most technologically robust news channels. Through its technologically advanced teleport, OTV is being able to reach its viewers with digital-quality images. OTV is equipped with high-quality modern cameras, studio infrastructure, production control room, master control room, automated library with thousands of videos from the past along with systems to cover any news live from any corner of the state as well as the country.

Today is the age of live & real-time news and viewers prefer to watch live coverage of events. Respecting such change in the viewers' taste, OTV has made elaborate arrangements. OTV is the only channel in the State to be equipped with 5 Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) vehicles. Even in cases where it is not possible for a DSNG vehicle to reach far and cut-off areas, OTV reporters with help of their high-powered live backpack equipment DMNG are being able to send live pictures. Moreover, OTV is the only channel in the state which uses helicopters and drones to bring pictures from far flung areas of the State. During flood, OTV reporters created history by covering affected areas from the helicopter.

At the same time OTV has not ignored the shifts in technology and the changing times. Today, news reaches people even before it appears on television screens, thanks to social media and smart phones. Keeping pace with these changes, OTV, as a leading news provider in Odisha, has set up the largest digital platform in the state. Today OTV owns three widely popular and most used websites - www.odishatv.in, khabar.odishatv.in and www.odishareporter.in. People from Odisha who are staying outside the state depend on www.odishatv.in news portal to get Odisha-related news. Similarly, for digital users who want their news in Odia language, OTV has two news portals - khabar.odishatv.in and www.odishareporter.in.

OTV is now available to users on their smart phones and has become the biggest platform on social media for regional news coverage. Through its YouTube channel, viewers are able to watch its videos, bulletins and other programs anytime and anywhere.

With changing times, the tastes and preferences of viewers have changed. OTV is evolving continually to cater to the changing needs of viewers.

Being the biggest brand in regional media, it has been responsible in covering news and never afraid of bringing the truth to public. Because of its unbiased news, it has become the 'voice' of people of Odisha.

At every step, you have put your trust on us - whether it is cable, satellite or digital.

We thank you for keeping us in front. We still have to go a long way and all that we need is your love, trust & support.