ITV

Tag: Telugu channels

  • Sun plans launch of four Telugu channels

    MUMBAI: Sun Network is planning to launch four Telugu language channels, stitching together a bouquet of eight channels by the year-end.
     

    First to take off would be a satellite channel with cable-oriented content, aimed for a June launch. The channel, GCV, will have local events, product launches, news and movies. Cable operators will have a revenue share arrangement with Sun Network. “GCV will help strengthen our relationship with cable operators. As the content will be localised, operators can enjoy a share of the revenues. It will have a two-hour band for kids and the plan is to launch the channel in June,” says a source in Gemini.
     
     

    Sun Network also plans to launch channels in the business and kids genre. “We will take a decision soon. But the new launches will be targeted specifically at niche audiences and advertisers,” he adds. Sun Network already has four Telugu channels in its stable – Gemini (general entertainment), Teja (movies and film-based programming), Teja News (news channel) and Aditya (music channel).

    The move comes in the wake of Sun Network chairman and managing director Kalanithi Maran planning to launch a direct-to-home (DTH) service. Maran will need a wide range of south Indian language channels to lure subscribers to his DTH platform. Besides, he will use this wide bouquet in each of these language markets to aggregate audiences, making it difficult for rival networks to compete with him. “In Andhra Pradesh, there is a market for niche audience segments,” says the source.
     

  • Karnataka viewers in for cable fee hike

    BANGALORE: The days of “free view” for Karnataka’s TV addicts are about to end. They will soon have to pay to watch their favourite Kannada language soaps. 

    Come 1 August and two south-based TV networks, Sun Network and Raj TV, are turning pay. Lead network Sun has decided to turn four of its local channels — three Kannada and one Telugu — into pay channels.

    Market leader Udaya TV, along with Udaya News and Ushe of (all of the Sun Network), will become dearer by Rs 18 from next month. Udaya TV is to be encrypted from 1 August while the other two channels are already running as encrypted feeds.

    This step is in line with Sun’s already laid out plans, as per a company spokesman, who says that their Tamil and Telugu channels are already pay channels. The company plans to go in for ground distribution initially in Bangalore along the lines of their Sumangali and Gemini cable operations in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu respectively.

    Raj TV’s general entertainment Telugu channel Visa TV will also turn into a pay channel from 1 August at a Rs 6 per subscriber rate.

    As of now, cable operators are undecided over whether or not to pass on the extra charge to the subscriber.

    During the course of a telephonic interview today, Ponnacha, spokesperson for the Karnataka State Cable TV Operators Association, said that the matter would be discussed at a state-level meeting of all district cable operators and their associations scheduled to be held on 1 August at Kumte.

    Ponnacha’s personal view is that only those subscribers who are paying a lower slab of subscription fee should pay the extra charges so that the subscription fee in Bangalore does not exceed Rs 250 in any case. Calling the broadcasters’ “sudden decision” to turn these free-to-air channels into pay channels unjust, Ponnacha asked, “If in Tamil Nadu, Tamil channels are free and in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu channels are free, why should we in Karnataka pay for Kannada channels?

    “We invest all the money in dishes and cable equipment. The ad revenues from these channels are among the highest in Karnataka, as these channels are quite popular, why should the broadcasters follow different policies for different states?”

    Ponnacha said his network had different subscription rates for people of different socio-economic strata. “We have multi-millionaires, rich people, then come well-to-do small businessman and salaried class executives, then peons and other staff, vegetable vendors and auto-rickshaw drivers and sweepers as subscribers. People having sets with 10-12 channels or very old TV sets generally pay around Rs 100 per month. The maximum charges are Rs 250 per month and we’d like to keep the limit there. An increase of Rs 24 by the broadcasters (three channels from Sun and one from Raj) translates into an actual minimum increase of Rs 50 for the subscribers.”

    “I may have to start charging Rs 250 from next month, a hike of Rs 50 from next month onwards,” said cable operator GK Ashok Kumar of Sri Sai Maruthi Video Vision. “I’ve not yet calculated the impact of service tax on my charges,” said V Krishna Kumar, another cable operator.

    Ice Networks Pvt Ltd (Bangalore) managing director S Babu, meanwhile, said that his network would abide by any decision taken at the meeting between the MSOs and cable operators.

    A dharna against Sun TV’s decision is also under consideration, according to industry sources.

  • Zee gets shareholders’ nod for Asianet acquisition

    Zee gets shareholders’ nod for Asianet acquisition

    An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders gave Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra and the company the go-ahead to acquire 61 per cent equity of Asianet Communications, which runs the Malayalam channel of the same name. 

    The cost: Rs 2,550 million plus a Rs 1,000 million as a non-compete cash consideration. Zee Telefilms will issue 2.7 million shares to Asianet promoter Dr Raji Menon (amounting to 0.66 per cent of Zee Telefilms’ capital). The non-compete clause forbids Asianet from launching any regional language channels over the next five years. 

    Zee Telefilms additionally has the option to buy another 12 per cent of Asianet’s equity within the next three years if needed. Asianet notched up revenues of Rs 186 million (financial year: 1998), Rs 254 million (1999) and (Rs 355 million: expected for 2000). Its corresponding profit after tax is: Rs 23 million, 30 million, and Rs 69 million respectively.

     

    “Asianet has a good 75 per cent of the Malayalam market,” said Chandra. “Additionally, it will launch Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu channels. The Kannada channel should launch by 21 May. We are buying into the whole story and not just Asianet Malayalam.”