It’s not about the voices — our channels get the same voices (at least some of them) — it’s about the presentation: Lyse Doucet just cocks her head a little to one side, and then in that gentle brogue sets the scene in Islamabad; then the anchor in London takes over and begins with a series of interviews that includes Nawaz Sharif, maybe Benazir and a snippet from Pakistan Prime Minister Aziz’s press conference. Moves smoothly into a studio discussion featuring BBC’s former Islamabad correspondent Owen Jones and Bilal Rana, the lawyer representing the interests of the sacked chief justice. Onto Washington, back to Doucet who, once again, adroitly shifts the focus — now we have Ayesha Siddiqa on the Pakistani Army’s imperatives... Smooth transitions executed with a calm authority over the subject at hand with keen perspectives. It’s almost perfect.

On the lighter side of television, Star and Sony are in the middle of an unusual battle: while Star channels promote Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om, Sony is rooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya — it’s six pack Shah Rukh versus Michael Jackson Ranbir, The Making of Saawariya versus The Making of Om Shanti Om. Sony and Zee have their own peculiar generational tussle going on: if Sa Re Ga Ma Pa has little ones singing their hearts out, Sony’s Boogie Woogie has mothers dancing off their toes.

Elsewhere, Kapil Dev, wife Romi and their daughter make a pretty picture and Dev a plea for the girl child. Bat on, Kapil da.

... contd.