All you '90s kids, no Channel V on television anymore
What's the story
Mostly celebrated for defining Indie-pop culture for an entire generation and being the coolest space on TV in the '90s, Channel V is reportedly shutting shop after a 20-year-long stint in India. Launched by Star India, the music channel will most likely be replaced by Star Sports 1 Kannada. Here's looking at Channel V's rise, its fall and all the nostalgia in between.
Nostalgia
More than just a music channel
Channel V, for the longest time, was a lot more than just a music channel. In a no-internet age, it served as YouTube's prototype feeding viewers home-grown music by indigenous rockstars and making video-jockeying young India's dream profession. It's also known for launching the careers of several celebrities, most notably Ayushmann Khurrana, Aditya Roy Kapur, Purab Kohli, Neeti Mohan and Anushka Manchanda.
Reaction
The YouTube of '90s: Twitterati reminisce the good old days
It feels like the end of an era for us '90s kids. Most things that we loved so much while growing up either don't exist anymore or are fast fading from memory: Barista, Planet M, Archies, Harry Potter, and now Channel V. Of course, Twitter had to burst out in nostalgia. Channel V's former employees and once-upon-a-time viewers all mourned the irrevocable loss.
Twitter Post
Lola Kutty aka Anuradha Menon on Channel V's exit
Places I used to frequent don't exist anymore.
— Anu Menon (@ExLolaKutty) November 22, 2017
First Barista.
Now Channel V. pic.twitter.com/T3xKSRKJHN
Twitter Post
Celebrating the end of an era
End of an era
— Shruti Seth (@SethShruti) November 22, 2017
A farewell party is a must @Purab_Kohli @yuuthistar @gauravkapur https://t.co/nLZQHd60ew
Downfall
Channel V kept changing too much too quickly
Poor branding, lack of a focused strategy, and low viewership killed Channel V. However, to stay relevant, it re-invented itself every three years in the past decade. Launched exclusively as a youth-centric music channel, it switched to fiction and reality shows in 2012, and back to music in 2016. Channel V kept changing too drastically too soon and hence lost connect with its audience.