ITV

Tag: Intelsat20

  • Network18 to launch News18 Bharat

    Network18 to launch News18 Bharat

    MUMBAI: Network18 is adding another feather to its cap. The network is all geared up to launch a new Hindi news channel, News18 Bharat, to its bouquet of 20 news channels. According to a source privy to the information, the channel has begun testing but the launch date is still not clear.

    Network18, however, denied the development when Indiantelevision.com reached out to the network.

    Out of Network18’s portfolio of 20 channels, 14 are regional channels, four are business news channels and the remaining are general news channels. The network already has five regional channels for the Hindi-speaking states—News18 India, CNBC Awaaz, News18 Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand, New18 Madhya Pradesh- Chhattisgarh and News18 Punjab-Haryana-Himachal.

    With New18 Bharat entering the fray, competition in the Hindi news genre is expected to hot up. The channel will be free to air to begin with but may shift to the pay model with 24×7 news programming. The format of the channel will be MPEG4/DVBS2 while the frequency rate is 4035 Hz. The testing of the transmission service has started on Intelsat20 at 68.5 degrees east.

    If we have a look at Broadcast Audience Research Council’s numbers in the Hindi news genre, New18 India is in the top-five list in the Hindi-speaking market (HSM U+R) and urban. News18 Bharat is likely to be targeted at rural India.

    Recently, Network18 elevated Avinash Kaul as the chief operating officer (COO).

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  • Discovery World HD adds Hindi, Tamil, Telugu feeds

    Discovery World HD adds Hindi, Tamil, Telugu feeds

    MUMBAI: Discovery World HD is leaving no stone unturned to tap into India’s growing regional phenomenon. It has started Hindi, Tamil and Telugu language feeds for specific markets. Discovery seems to be targeting the mass audience with the three largely spoken languages in the country.

    Discovery Communications India vice-president and head premium and digital networks Zulfia Waris told Indiantelevision.com, “We are delighted to add three new feeds. The introduction of local languages is an attempt to further solidify our leadership position in key markets across the country.”

    The service has started on Intelsat20 @68.5 degree East satellite. The language feed will be available on all the cable and DTH platforms that have Discovery HD World in their bouquet of channels. The user the language feeds through the audio option button.

    At present, Discovery operates several factual entertainment channels in India, including Discovery HD World, Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Kids and Dsport. The network’s recently launched GEC, Discovery Jeet, has feeds in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu as well.

    There are over 270 regional channels out of 500 channels overall in BARC. The regional viewership is higher than the Hindi viewership and has a market share of 47 per cent.

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