Reaching the Maximum
Ruwini Jayawardana
|
The Max Radio Team. Pictures by Saman Sri Wedage
|
Sarath Chandrasiri |
 |
|
Prageeth Peries |
Hemasri Amarasinghe |
Lal Sarath Kumara |
M.N. Ishark |
They may be just over a year or two young but following the re-launch
they have reached dizzy heights! Their popularity had ascended by bounds
after turning over a new leaf. The Daily News visited the Max team to
find out how the turn of events shaped their path.
With the re-launch Max had introduced a number of new programs to
their line-up. Some reality television program and the television
channel’s first teledrama is also taking shape.
“The concepts were the brainchild of our Managing Director Janaka
Ramanayake. He believes in targeting the youth of the country. We did a
research on how to develop programs which would catch the interest of
the youth. A collection of such programs were launched in September. The
programs come in Sinhala, Tamil and English, catering to all the
nationalities of the country,” Max Radio General Manager Lal Sarath
Kumara explained on Max’s new approach to the scene.
He dubbed Max’s new turn as an ‘experiment processes’.
“Our pervious listeners and viewers might wonder and not quite take
to the new procedure but we request them to observe the channels for a
while before coming to a judgment.”
Queried if they hope to take the channel to the North, Lal said that
they are in the process of formulating such an idea.
“The Government had promised to set up a tower for all the stations
so that they can cater programs to the Jaffna region. We are pinning our
hopes on that as well.” “We have introduced programs like ‘Love Guru’ to
help youth solve their problems with romance. We get a lot of calls from
our listeners who wish to seek help in solving their romantic matters.
‘Youth Fantasy’ is another program in which has captured the pulse of
the young generation aired from 8 p.m. to midnight. It comes in five
variations and includes different music genres each day.
Three presenters conduct the program in three languages. In ‘Music
Therapy’ two experienced individuals will teach listeners about engaging
in a mental exercise while listening to music. ‘Bombay Suite’ is a
request show where listeners can ask for their favourite Hindi tunes to
be played on air,” Max Radio Operations Assistant Manager M.N. Ishark
stated.
He also added that their Program Manager Dinusha Priyadharshana and
Night Belt Manager Sahan Liyanage had contributed their share in making
the venture a success.
“We do not have specific deadlines. Our goal is to report an incident
in the same manner that it took place.
The Max Television team |
The most important aspect is to give information to the audience
accurately,” News Manager Sarath Chandrasiri noted. Max TV will turn
three years in January 8, 2010. The whole outlook of the channel
including its logo changed two months back. No sooner had this procedure
taken place the audience response rose considerably.
“We were actually expecting results towards next year but
surprisingly the tables have turned. Masses have gathered around us
within a couple of months after we changed its strategies.
The response is overwhelming and encouraging,” Max Television Program
Manager Prageeth Madushan Peries opined on the facelift of the
television channel.
Max television programs are aired in all three major languages of the
country. This might have been a boring process for the viewers but
Prageeth hastens to add that each of the presentations are not direct
translations but are done in quite a different manner from each other.
“We are the only local television channel that delivers the goods to
the viewers in this unique manner. ‘Good Evening’ had gathered many fans
due to this concept.
We have produced a selection of programs for the Tamil audience in
the future,” he added. Focusing on the reality television program trend
enveloping the country, Prageeth noted that Max’s ‘Street Brains’ is a
quest to locate brainy individuals in the country.
“All the other channels are in a race to choose the most popular
singers and dancers. Everyone wanted to find a star of their own.
However we have not gone after stars or tried to make a star out of a
person. We aim to venture to a sphere which has yet to be explored by
our local television channels,” said the youth who clinched a Sumathi
Tele Award for presenting Hatharaweni Thattuwa.
‘Upset First’ will be another program in the Max’s line up which will
provide the viewers with an interesting experience. It spotlights on
different strata on the society but Prageeth keeps mum about further
details in connection with the program as he wishes the audience to
experience it first.
‘What’s Up?’ is an adventurous reality program which hopes to break
bounds into the youth camp in the future. ‘Max Model of the Year’, is a
contest which brings out the best model in Sri Lanka.
Sailona is the television’s first teledrama. It is scripted by the
television’s Chief screenplay Writer Hemasri Amarasinghe.
“Managing Director Ramanayake came up with the concept of the tale.
Sailona is about the barriers which youth face when they strive to bring
their innate skills to the fore. The teledrama comprises of a hundred
episodes and already more then 50 have been telecast.
Sanath Gunatileke, Cletus Mendis, Kusum Renu, Sudattha Thilaksiri and
a host of new faces make up the cast,” Amarasinghe said adding that the
tale revolves around a music troupe. Vajira Kodithuwakku is the director
of the teledrama which is telecast on Max television on weekdays at 8
p.m. Madhava Chathuranga is the cameraman. |
