A TV Channel Based on User Created Content

 Two facts :

Fact #1 
YouTube and other video hosting sites have some real gems that educate you (like that video from Khan academy about Greek debt), make you laugh (so many of them). However not everyone has access to high speed Internet needed to watch high quality videos, not do people have time to search and find those gems buried under tons other not so good videos.

Fact #2 
For whatever reasons there is not much original content on Indian TV channels, especially content that appeals to young people. News channel s are worst, with very little of genuine journalism and research.

So LET there be a TV channel that picks gems (good video and photo content) from youtube etc and broadcast to TV channel audience. Of course copyright issue needs to be studied & addressed, but if these TV channels could give some financial incentive for anyone, anywhere in India to produce a good content and upload it, then it is win (creator) - win (TV channel) - win channel audience) situation.

For example: Imagine some thing like Kolavari, before it became sensation gets picked by the TV channel and broadcasted. It would be a super sensation.

In other words, TV channel acts as a filter (that will pick good content) and then amplifier/booster (broadcasting to those who do not have hi speed Internet, but have TV). As more and more people have access to good quality cameras and camcorders there will be lot of gems waiting to be discovered.

For example: Some house wife somewhere in India might have a really great recipe, her husband could video record and upload it. However it is unlikely to reach large no. of people. TV channel could pick it up and make it a popular.

Daylight saving time for India

If you search for "Daylight saving time USA"in Google, it returns:

Daylight Saving Time (United States) began Sunday, 11 March 2012, 2:00, and ends Sunday, 4 November 2012, 2:00.Except Arizona and Hawaii. Move your clocks ahead 1 hour in spring and back 1 hour in fall ("Spring forward, fall back").

This got me thinking:

Q. In India, during summer (i.e. now) how much EXTRA sunlight do we get in the morning? Do we get equal no. of EXTRA hours in the evening? Of course not, so what is the difference? Is it significant?

Q. Secondly, how much % energy is spent on lighting (houses, offices, roads etc.)? Is it significant?


Following are some no. of New Delhi, I intentionally chose a city in North India, where difference will be more.

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	This day	Difference	Time	Altitude	Distance

24 Feb 2012    06:52    18:17    11h 25m 03s    + 1m 38s    12:34    51.7°     148.031
25 Feb 2012    06:51    18:18    11h 26m 42s    + 1m 38s    12:34    52.1°     148.064
26 Feb 2012    06:50    18:19    11h 28m 21s    + 1m 39s    12:34    52.5°     148.098
27 Feb 2012    06:49    18:19    11h 30m 01s    + 1m 39s    12:34    52.9°     148.132
28 Feb 2012    06:48    18:20    11h 31m 41s    + 1m 40s    12:34    53.2°     148.167
29 Feb 2012    06:47    18:20    11h 33m 21s    + 1m 40s    12:34    53.6°     148.201

26 Mar 2012    06:18    18:36    12h 17m 52s    + 1m 43s    12:27    63.8°     149.244
27 Mar 2012    06:17    18:36    12h 19m 35s    + 1m 42s    12:26    64.2°     149.286
28 Mar 2012    06:16    18:37    12h 21m 18s    + 1m 42s    12:26    64.6°     149.328
29 Mar 2012    06:15    18:38    12h 23m 01s    + 1m 42s    12:26    65.0°     149.370
30 Mar 2012    06:13    18:38    12h 24m 43s    + 1m 42s    12:26    65.3°     149.412
31 Mar 2012    06:12    18:39    12h 26m 25s    + 1m 42s    12:25    65.7°     149.454

Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=176&month=3&year=2012&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

Remember North India are some really populous states (as big as some European countries) , so a serious study is needed to conclude is Daylight Saving Time for India will result into energy savings (which is scarce).



Also remember that typical Indian office, work starts after 9:30 AM so we are already NOT using morning sunlight. In summer, it is whopping 3 hours after sun rise. Of course assumption here majority buildings have architecture that uses sunlight.

Innovations 2010 : Talk by Sanjay Nayak

Following are my notes at Innovation 2010 keynote speech by Mr. Nayak (CEO, Tejas Networks). Although I do not agree with everything he said, speech was great.

Tejas : A Product Company

Business models of Indian IT services companies (like Infosys, Wipro) are :
Provide IT services to western market. Services that can be done at less cost in India compared to western market. Internet and communication infrastructure makes it possible to provide reasonable quality services from India.

Because of this cost difference between western countries and India, IT services companies have majority of its clients in western countries.

Tejas Networks is a products (combination of hardware + firmware + software) company. Products are developed for telecommunication market, India and outside. Tejas does not actually manufacture hardware, it outsources manufacturing to Electronics Manufacturing Services providers. Tejas designs the hardware and get it manufactured from suitable EMS provider in India or outside India.

India : Emerging Market

In the past, innovative products (New cars for example) are first launched in western markets for high price. Once a product becomes commodity, it is re-launched in third world countries for less price.

However India in 2010 is different and changing fast:
1. New products are being launched first in India.
2. The growth is stalled in western world and happening is in India. Third world countries are now emerging markets.
3. Coming years lot of money to be spend (huge market for telecom equipment) in India and for many other products.
4. Mobile service provider earn profit even for low ARPV in India. Therefore lot of innovation, not on technology front, but business model front, to reduce cost, must have happened.

Following are observation about India for developing products and as a market.

1. Cost of innovation in India is low. So it is possible to develop new products with relatively less investment in R & D. Blended cost (mix of experienced and fresh engineers).
2. Indian customers are demanding. They want world class quality at low cost. This drives you crazy and forces you to provide best at least cost.
3. Consider India as sandbox for your products, before launching in global market.
4. Indian customers comfortable spending on hardware but reluctant to pay for software.
5. There are infrastructure problems in India (24 X 7 electricity supply etc.)

Advice For Start Ups

For start up companies interesting in developing innovative products, following is the advice :

1. Funding : Early stage VC funding is one option. In case Tejas, it was not possible to boot strap. Because of nature of the product they had start with big team of engineers.

2. Focus : Focus on one product area and clear direction.

3. Execute one step at a time :

• get product working.
• get 1 customer/user.
• get 10 customer.
• think about & beat competition.
  

4. Team : Strong team with variety of background needed. Complementary skills (Finance, Marketing & Sales) needed.

5. Customer : Anticipate technology trends, understand customer needs before defining the product.

6. Global market : Big companies looking at India for product development. In some cases, Indian companies develop product and is branded by big companies in western market using existing marketing and sales network.

7. Tejas Advantage : Investment in R & D, convert hardware functionality into software. Less time to develop the product.

8. Funding : Take money whenever available. You will need it. Investors in Tejas include Desh Deshpande, Mayfield, Battery, Intel, Goldman Sachs.

9. CSIR : Look at Govt. of India initiatives like CSIR for funding. Be patient.

It was really inspirational keynote.