TV + Entrepreneurship Brainstorming Needed

[Ankesh]

How would you make a TV show about entrepreneurship interesting? So that the mainstream population watch it?

What should the show have that would make you watch it?

Should it be biographical? Or interview based? Or a mix of both?

Do you have any creative idea or twist that would make a good TV show that inspires more people to become entrepreneurs?

(A person I know who works for a non-profit entrepreneurship incubator is in the position to pitch a TV show. I have a few ideas of my own. But would love your opinion...)

Hi Ankesh,

Looking forward to your Television network Startup...

Here's a Quick idea...

As you know there's a Ton of Great Entrepreneur related web concepts...

Springwise, Trendwatching, Killerstartups, Cool business ideas, CNN Money network, TechCrunch etc. etc...

BUT... There are very few Entrepreneurial TV shows Focusing and covering Smart web concepts...

Usually just part of the news or Venture related shows...

Well put together information, reviews and Success Stories will always be in Demand...

Although... The Future of newspapers & television will keep on expanding to the Growing Internet...

So Web TV is probably a much better business model to consider... Unlimited only to your Niche Imagination...

Technophilia: Forget the TV and watch the web...
http://lifehacker.com/software/telev...web-199335.php

http://www.webtvhub.com/internet-ent...d-tv-channels/

World's largest collection of Live internet TV stations and video feeds. Over 300 Live TV Stations...
http://www.webtvlist.com/

Phil

[Ankesh]

Thanks Phil

Nothings sure at this moment. But TV is better than internet. Because the audience is Indians. And only 5% of Indians use the Internet. And the broadband speeds are pathetic. I personally get just 256kbps. And most people staying in smaller cities or rural areas are even worse off.

The TV is the dominant medium in India right now - and for the foreseeable future.

[MMacGillivray]

Hi, Ankesh - I don't know if you get this programme in India, but the BBC's Dragons Den programme shows budding entrepreneurs who have started business, but need investment capital, pitching for money from five very successful entrepreneurs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/

Best
Margaret

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by MMacGillivray

Hi, Ankesh - I don't know if you get this programme in India, but the BBC's Dragons Den programme shows budding entrepreneurs who have started business, but need investment capital, pitching for money from five very successful entrepreneurs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/

I'll post more later (don't have time right now), but I'll just say that two more good British entrepreneurial TV shows are/were...

Make Me A Million
http://www.channel4.com/money/ontv/make_me_a_million/

and

Risking It All
http://www.channel4.com/money/ontv/risking_it_all/

Cheers, Dien

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by Ankesh

How would you make a TV show about entrepreneurship interesting? So that the mainstream population watch it?

What should the show have that would make you watch it?

Should it be biographical? Or interview based? Or a mix of both?

Do you have any creative idea or twist that would make a good TV show that inspires more people to become entrepreneurs?

(A person I know who works for a non-profit entrepreneurship incubator is in the position to pitch a TV show. I have a few ideas of my own. But would love your opinion...)

Bob Vila's THIS OLD HOUSE. It started as a 13 part series for step-by-step home renovation.

So, your friend's show can start as a 13 part series on Entrepreneurship...each show stands alone on the how to aspect...and the whole series puts it all together.

THEN, you have the videos, VHS tapes, DVD, and WEBTV for when the rest of India gets caught up (and they will)...so you lay down the foundation...that lasts for years. Those original HOW TO renovate an old house are still practical and useful 27 years after they originally aired.

OF course, you would provide libraries with free copies. And/Or, have them in video rental stores even, or clubs, etc.

Each episode can INCLUDE a brief biography of a successful Indian business that applied this week's "lesson" and became successful...the more common the background, the higher the "relate to" aspect.

You can have a PRINT edition follow-up, or offer a NEWSPAPER once a month that covers what the shows have talked about, with additional resources and a source of advertising revenue to help fund the Not for Profit part of it too.

So, you lay out 13 episodes of: How to Make More Money Through Entrepreneurship; Indian Style

The NAME is going to be important, you can come up with that.

So you need 13 success stories. And it would be good to have these IN THE CAN before you got started. A simple set, the HOSTS, the topic:

13 is good because that creates 4 per year...which is why the TV system got set up for...and most TV shows have a 13 or 26 "Buy" by the network...

So can your friend find 13 success stories (and start shooting them) and can you help lay out the program (Follow some of the steps in Think And Grow Rich or any good business plan)...

Start with POSSIBILITIES, move to RESOURCES, or ATTITUDES of Entrepreneurship, SKILLS, TOOLS, well, Ankesh, you can do this in your sleep.

I think with the highly literate population you have to work with, a BOOK or NEWSLETTER...released simultaneously...AS SEEN ON TV, or based upon the best seller...sort of thing...

And add an EVENT to the mix, and you've got the 3 elements needed to do a successful off line launch.

Hey, watch a few of the original This Old House episodes, pretty LOW production values, with high quality content that doesn't go too stale.

Good luck, most don't know that India is about to EXPLODE on the world market scene...and Ankesh, for your own money making future, have something "invested" in INFRASTRUCTURE...you know what I'm talking about.

Gordon Jay Alexander

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Ankesh

How would you make a TV show about entrepreneurship interesting? So that the mainstream population watch it?

What should the show have that would make you watch it?

Should it be biographical? Or interview based? Or a mix of both?

Do you have any creative idea or twist that would make a good TV show that inspires more people to become entrepreneurs?

Hi Ankesh,

Because you're going for a mainstream audience, I think you have to capture their attention the same way other programs do...

I think that's usually through conflict! Pretty much all stories are based on a conflict... It could be a straightforward conflict between two or more people. Or it could be a more complicated type of conflict, like of an individual against society, or even of an individual against his or her own fears... Or a "conflict" between a goal a person wants to achieve, and all the very tough obstacles in their way...

That's a basic component of any kind of "riveting" story-telling... It also holds on TV. Pretty much all soap operas, dramas, and so on, are based around various conflicts, how they arise, the effect on people, and how they resolve themselves...

Even non-story shows have conflict! Think of quiz shows, or reality TV... They always manage to work conflict into it somehow... That's because, that's what keeps people riveted to the show!

Keep in mind that the "conflict" does not have to be the violent type. But it does have to create tension, so people are fascinated on how it's going to resolve itself and play out...

The other thing you need, I think, are main "players" that people can relate to, and empathize with. That's one reason why "rags to riches" stories are so interesting. "Ordinary" people (who are not rich) can empathize with the person, at least in the "rags" stage of their tale...! And, usually they have some kind of obstacle (i.e. conflict) that they have to overcome on their road to success.

Anyway, I think you should try to keep those two things in mind if you want to appeal to the masses... Make sure there's conflict to keep people watching, and "personalities" that people can relate to...

I think you can work these things into practically any type of format.

I hope that helps... Please keep us posted on this project, because it's fascinating...

Cheers,

Dien

Ankesh,

I don't think there is much market for business tv shows without a more cutting edge hook to it otherwise like in states many get regulated to public television.

This is what I might think might be bold for Indian tv.

What about a show on female startups and along the way you integrate business lessons and how family relationships are affected.

Can you match an Indian and a Pakastani starting a business together?
Maybe in some kind of cricket related business? or some kind of
Bollywood enterprise?

Hi Ankesh,

This topic goes well with Dien’s post about fear.

You said that you wanted to create a program for the mainstream population to watch.

Jay Alexander’s response was about “I can do it, let me SHOW you how you can too!” And I think that’s the way you should go. Dien was on target too.

Look around, and ask “what’s already being done successfully, and how can you do it better.”

In America, our late night TV is flooded with “get rich now in real estate, buying notes, stock market, etc.” Most of these advertoirals are heavy with testimonies, benefits, and results. Of course there’s the irresistible offer to act now!

Think about focusing on TELLING THE STORY of how certain people overcame their obstacles: social, personal, financial, etc. that led them to success. Show the results, and benefits. Provide third party testimonials when you can. Then make an irresistible offer for the step-by-step plan that solves your target markets problems.