Gone are the days where a person used to come on to the streets of a village pronouncing the decisions of either King or Ministers to the people using a drum like instrument. In Telugu it was called 'Chaatimpu'.
Gone are those days when a cycle rickshaw used to carry a person to announce through the loud speaker about the upcoming movie in a touring talkies or about any government declarations.
Gone are those days when people used to gather at a place to listen to the news on radio.
Now the turn has come for the News Paper. They sustained in the system for more than a century but now the Covid pandemic has planted a death blow on its face.
Almost every News Paper was suffering even before the Covid pandemic and had been toiling a lot to break even. But now, the situation has totally collapsed.
Ramoji's Eenadu empire that used to get Rs 200 Cr per month (including Film City, Margadarshi and Priya Pickles) is now getting only Rs 20 Cr. That doesn't mean Eenadu News Paper has some share of income in that. Whatever be the income that is only through Margadarshi and a very small percentage through Priya Pickles. The rest of the media and film city tourism business are on ventilator. It is known that maintaining Film City is not an easy thing. Despite the entire group getting Rs 20 Cr, that doesn't suffice to maintain the white elephant Film City.
Another channel cum news paper media house is struggling to pay salaries even though they sacked so many employees. The Ad revenue is almost nil. But one may wonder how it can be possible to survive when there is no earning.
An insider from the same news daily who lost his job has said, "During the TDP reign, this media house had minted close to Rs 750 Cr from AP government in the name of Ads. In fact, with such kind of money in hand, it can survive with the full strength of employees. But still, it has sent many employees home".
Running the news daily is a very expensive thing. Right from the procurement of news in the most comprehensive way along with photographs, presenting it in an impressive manner catering to all sections of people, setting the page layout and design, printing, distributing and marketing to add new subscribers...it's unending and expensive. After doing all this only two or three newspapers would survive by getting the advertisements.
But now, this entire phenomenon is going to be a history.
