ITV

Tag: Kairali

  • Indiavision to launch second channel in October

    MUMBAI: Malayalam news channel Indiavision will soon have a sibling in a youth-oriented entertainment channel. Indiavision Satellite Communications, promoters of Indiavision, is targeting an October launch for the 24-hour channel.

    Indiavision is actually converting its existing music channel, which is a non-entity in the Malayalam television market, to a full-fledged entertainment channel targeting the youth. The company is yet to take a final decision on the logo and name of the new channel as it is awaiting permission from the Information & Broadcasting Ministry on the re-launch.

    “We expect to get I & B permission by this month end, after which we will unveil the name and logo of the channel,” Indiavision distribution head Vinod Kumar told indiantelevision.com.
    Indiavision had launched its second channel in late 2004 with intentions of making it a lottery channel. But it had to change its plan and make it a music channel following the government restrictions on online lottery. The company, however, concentrated on the news channel and decided to go slow on the music channel.

    Indiavision had kicked off its plans to revive the music channel early this year. But the focus got shifted to taking the news channel to the Middle East and beefing up the news operations there. The news channel opened a studio in Dubai Media City last week to beam programmes live. This facility now helps the channel to telecast news bulletins and news-based programmes live from the Gulf.

    Now the entertainment channel project takes centre-stage for the company again. Indiavision feels that having a full-fledged second channel will solve its distribution issues since Indiavision news channel is yet to get a nationwide presence on cable networks. The company is planning to launch the entertainment channel in the Gulf as well.

    “Having a bouquet of two channels can change the equation on the distribution front. We have already started out talks with cable operators in Mumbai and Chennai. By 2005-end we will have a national presence,” says Kumar.

    The Malayalam television market has seen a flurry of channel launches this year. Asianet has recently launched its youth-oriented entertainment channel Asianet Plus. The market has also witnessed the launches of Sun’s music and movie channel Kiran TV, Kairali’s infotainment channel People TV and Amrita TV in 2005.

     

  • Kairali TV’s sister channel ‘People’ set to debut

    MUMBAI: Malayalam Communications Ltd (MCL), which owns the Malayalam satellite television channel Kairali TV, is all set to launch its second channel People in the market.

    As already reported by indiantelevision.com, the infotainment channel will debut on 17 August, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Kairali TV. The Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M) controlled channel will be getting almost an year’s time to consolidate itself before the state goes to polls to elect the next government in the state.
     
     

    According to Malayalam television market sources, MCL is investing approximately Rs 120 million in the new project, mainly to upgrade the technical facilities. The channel will be using the latest server-based technology for operations. The new venture will initially make use of Kairali TV’s human resources and will look for hiring more professionals in the next phase.

    Malayalam Communications chairman and Malayalam film’s superstar Mamootty along with prominent persons from different walks of life will grace the function being held in the Senate Hall in Thiruvananthapuram to mark the launch of the channel. The highlight of the function is the presentation of a visual treat on the history and culture of mankind titled “Impressions” directed by Soorya Krishnamoorthi.
     
     

    People’s programming repertoire will include news, news-based programmes, live telecasts, chat shows, programmes on IT, travel, pilgrimages, automobiles, career, education, agriculture, medicine, science, cinema, circus, theatre, folk art, festivals, literature, cuisine and history.

  • Tdsat hints Zee Turner and Asianet to compromise

    Tdsat hints Zee Turner and Asianet to compromise

    NEW DELHI: A three-judge bench at the Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat), while advising the parties concerned to try hammer out a solution between them, fixed another date for hearing the case relating to Zee Turner switching off bouquet to Asianet. The latter had earlier filed a complaint with Trai wherein the regulatory authority directed Zee-Turner to restore the signals to Asianet.

    The next date of hearing has been fixed for 16 February.

    This implies that a status quo is maintained as Asianet’s cable TV subscribers in parts of South India will have to do without the Zee Turner bouquet consisting of 17-odd channels including Zee TV, Zee News, HBO and Kairali.

    Zee-Turner, a distribution joint venture between Zee Telefilms and Time Warner, had appealed to the Tdsat last month on a Trai directive asking it to restore signals to Asianet in Kerala.

    The Zee-Turner bouquet has been off from the Asianet cable network since 16 December 2004 due to alleged non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 30 million. The company has also charged Asianet with unauthorised distribution of signals and under-declaration of subscriber base that has resulted in huge financial losses

    Though Indiantelevision.com does not have any official word on it, according to sources in both the companies, a settlement may be hammered out. While, reportedly, Asianet has offered a compromise formula, Zee Turner is looking for extracting more out of the settlement if it happens before the next date of hearing at Tdsat.

    A broad deal, being worked upon, envisages Asianet paying Rs. 5 million over the next few days with, may be, another package of equivalent amount being paid up at the time of next hearing. This would give Asianet access to the Zee Turner channels again and also time for further negotiations. However, the management of both the companies has to agree to such a deal involving part payment.

    What may be a bone of contention is the premier movie channel HBO. Asianet would like to have the channel too as part of the package at earlier rates, which is not being agreed upon by Zee Turner.

    Kerala cable TV households connected through Asianet have not been able to watch a slew of channels, including Zee Cinema, Zee TV, Zee English, Cartoon Network, Pogo, CNBC and ZMZ.

    The Rajan Raheja-controlled Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd. is the largest cable network services company in Kerala, and is the leading service provider in the region for cable TV and Internet solutions. Its cable network services operate from over 40 centers spread throughout Kerala and touch over half a million homes and establishments.

    With a countrywide network of over 400 dealers, Zee-Turner has a wide distribution structure in the country and its bouquet caters to wide genre of programming. The company boasts of a combined viewership of more than 30 million households with an equal spread throughout the country.

  • Another Malayalam TV channel India Vision launching 17 August

    Another Malayalam TV channel India Vision launching 17 August

    MUMBAI: The Malayalam channel space is becoming increasingly crowded. After Jeevan TV, which is all set to go on air from 1 August, it will be the turn of India Vision TV to launch on 17 August. 

    India Vision TV is promoted by Kerala state Public Works Department minister Dr MK Muneer and has its head office in Kochi, from where the channel would be uplinked. 

    With Asianet, Surya, Doordarshan and Kairali channels already operating in the state, the two new kids on the block are going to find it quite tough (to put it mildly) to mop up any advertising revenue.

    Among the four channels already on air, Kairali is desperately short of funds. Even Asianet, which had first mover advantage in the private channel space, has had to go in for a major course correction to counter the threat of the Sun Network’s Surya channel. 

  • Test signals begin for Malayalam channel India Vision

    Test signals begin for Malayalam channel India Vision

    A fifth Malayalam channel is all set to hit the airwaves. India Vision, the long delayed satellite channel promoted by Muslim League legislator MK Muneer, began test signals yesterday, industry sources say.

    The channel aims to propagate Kerala’s rich traditions “since many second and third generation Keralites in the US have forgotten the past.” 

    The channel is being run from the studio and uplinking centre, located at Kochi. This phase will be marked by invitations to a select audience which will suggest improvements and fine tune the shortfalls, before the channel is launched formally. 

    India Vision, with its focus on promotion of secularism and values, makes its debut at a time when Kairali TV, promoted by the Communist Party (Marxist) in the state has reported losses nearly Rs 70 million when it completed a year on air in August last year. India Vision, a Rs 800 million project, which initially planned to go on air in August last had a setback when Sony backed out of a marketing and distribution arrangement. 

    While Muneer dismisses fears that India Vision might end up as another religious channel, India Vision, he says, would be free to air in India and the Middle East while viewers would have to pay to watch it in the US. India Vision will be competing for eyeballs with Asianet, Surya, Kairali and Doordarshan. 

    Another rival, Jeevan TV, backed by the Catholic Church in Kerala, has also started a test run. 

  • Test signals begin for Malayalam channel India Vision

    Test signals begin for Malayalam channel India Vision

    A fifth Malayalam channel is all set to hit the airwaves. India Vision, the long delayed satellite channel promoted by Muslim League legislator MK Muneer, began test signals yesterday, industry sources say.

    The channel aims to propagate Kerala’s rich traditions “since many second and third generation Keralites in the US have forgotten the past.” 

    The channel is being run from the studio and uplinking centre, located at Kochi. This phase will be marked by invitations to a select audience which will suggest improvements and fine tune the shortfalls, before the channel is launched formally. 

    India Vision, with its focus on promotion of secularism and values, makes its debut at a time when Kairali TV, promoted by the Communist Party (Marxist) in the state has reported losses nearly Rs 70 million when it completed a year on air in August last year. India Vision, a Rs 800 million project, which initially planned to go on air in August last had a setback when Sony backed out of a marketing and distribution arrangement. 

    While Muneer dismisses fears that India Vision might end up as another religious channel, India Vision, he says, would be free to air in India and the Middle East while viewers would have to pay to watch it in the US. India Vision will be competing for eyeballs with Asianet, Surya, Kairali and Doordarshan.

    Another rival, Jeevan TV, backed by the Catholic Church in Kerala, has also started a test run.