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Saturday, March 4, 2000


Silicon Valley Saga Series


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I was there when Zee TV began in a basement with five employees, one table and two chairs. Every time someone got up, everybody else dived for the chair. An old cranky woman lived on the floor above with a dog that regularly showed it's disapproved by peeing all over the stairs. Before they signed the agreement, the head ..... of Star Hongkong demanded to see a sample of work. The tape ... out was a disaster. The agreement was signed, with all the Star men laughing secretly at these mad incompetent Indians who wanted to start a chennel.

Star TV believed in doing .... in style from the beginning. Employees got credit cards, fat salaries and perks that made the employees of all other channels want to quit and join them. Even when Rupert Murdoch made fired half of Star TV at one go, he did it in style. The staff came down to their specially designed dining room. For the lavish lunches that Star provided. When they returned to their desks, neat notes awaited each of them telling them that they were fired and were to leave the office immediately without taking a thing with them. A security guard was waiting at the door to escort them out.

And so it goes, and so it goes. Humour has it that the Adhikaris are finally starting their channel. Rumour .... has it that Sahara is finally going on air. Rumour has it that Nimbus is starting a channel of its own. I love new beginnings. I hate saying goodbye. But what can one do? Adios amigos. Until next time. Try not to get (smashed).

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