2014 has been a year of change. It witnessed the launch of three new channels ? Zindagi, Sony Pal and EPIC. It also marked the entry of Amitabh Bachchan in the fiction genre with Yudh, Indian television?s first psychological thriller miniseries; and a distinctive improvement in content.

It is befitting the vision of Subhash Chandra Goel, that he backed Zindagi. It was in 1992, that he launched the country's first satellite television channel Zee TV; and the first private news channel -- Zee News in 2006. Zindagi marks another milestone for the media giant as the first channel to air syndicated television shows, and began with content from Pakistan. Zindagi will later telecast television shows from countries such as Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Thanks to Zindagi, Indian television audiences had their first encounter with daily finite shows. It set a record with Aunn Zara, which premiered on the channel, the day it was launched, June 23. The show telecast its final episode on July 12, making Zindagi the first Hindi GEC in India, to end a show in just 19 days! The channel?s varied content and fast paced narratives have tugged at the heart of Indian viewers. Despite it being blocked by operators and placed randomly, viewers persisted. Back in a prime slot, Zindagi is alive and kicking.

Sony Pal, a new Hindi GEC launched soon after, with its women- specific content and target viewership. It will compliment its sister channels Sony Entertainment Television and comedy GEC SAB TV. It has Juhi Chawla as its brand ambassador and Raveena Tandon hosting a weekend show. Multicultural stories take place in cities like Amritsar, Lucknow, etc. But so far it hasn?t made a dent with its shows. One reason could be that, it is perceived as just another GEC.

The newest channel on the block, EPIC Channel is India's first genre-specific Hindi entertainment channel. Its cross-genre content ranges from action, drama, comedy to narrative non-fiction. The channel showcases India's heritage with unique and original content set in Indian history, folklore and mythology, using a contemporary story telling format. The out-of-the box content also includes famous spy stories from history.

The channel is promoting a global way of watching television mandate is finite shows only and may be seasons. The channel has an interesting mix of non-fiction shows which take the viewers on a food trail of the royals, the myths and legends of India. The channel's USP is well-researched content, which blends fiction and non-fiction made by directors and producers of merit and shot on authentic locations.

Kabir Bedi is the voice of the channel, which is backed by Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Rohit Khattar and Mahesh Samat. EPIC Channel is a refreshing change in the GEC segment with its fresh outlook, approach and even some faces. It just needs a push up the channel order.

Other channels showed sparks of new content. Yudh, a psychological thriller, marked Amitabh Bachchan?s debut in the fiction genre on TV. Said to is the most expensive fiction show ever made for Indian television. Each episode was an estimated at Rupees three crores. It was a coincidence that it started the same time as Zindagi was launched and marked itself as the first Indian fiction show to complete in 20 episodes. However, as much as viewers love Mr Bachchan, they couldn?t just adjust to watching him so late at night in a blur of swift action. The 10.30 time slot seems to be lucky for Ekta Kapoor who slotted Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, and now Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar.

2014 also witnessed content inspired by international shows has taken a side seat. Star Plus recently concluded Cinevistaas? Ek Haseena Thi, a romantic thriller which went on air in mid- April 14. It was loosely based on the American series Revenge. It earned respectable ratings, not high as Star Plus? channel driver Diya Aur Baati Hum and the other six shows of the top ten. However, at the television awards nights, Ek Haseena Thi was a frontrunner.

While Laut Aao Trisha on Life OK is the Hindi adaptation of another US show -- Missing, which was based on a Spanish tele-novella. The initial plot of Ekta Kapoor?s Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye is similar to another US show The Good Wife. The show which premiered in October marks Sonali Bendre?s debut in the fiction genre. Life OK has thrown up yet another TV debut, that of Raj Babbar as Amarjeet Shergill in Pukaar-Call for the Hero.

All through the year, Life OK persisted with out of the box content ? their indigenous high action thrillers like Mahakumbh and Pukaar ? Call For The Hero are settling down. How can we forget Life OK?s nerve wrecking Dare 2 Dance? A lethal combination of action hero Akshay Kumar handing out never-seen-before dares in daring dance performances. Dare 2 Dance remains an incomparable reality show.

In a way, 2014 has the makings of a milestone in the history of Indian television.