Mathrubhumi group to launch 2 TV channels

[mmadhankumar]

The publishers of Mathrubhumi newspaper are all set to foray into the television business with the launch of two channels - anews channel, Mathrubhumi News and a speciality channel, Kappa.

Kappa, which is to be launched first, will carry a mix of music, lifestyle and trivia. The test runs for the same are expected to start from next month and a full-fledged launch is expected in July. NDTV has helped Mathrubhumi set up the two channels.

Shreyams Kumar, director, Mathrubhumi, says, "At the moment, system integration is going on forboth the channels and in June, test runs will start. The test signals are on for the news channel, which will be launched second in the next couple of months after the speciality channel." The group is yet to reveal the logo of the two channels.

Kerala is likely to see the launch of about 10channels in the next one year.

According to those familiar with the TV space of Kerala, the channels in the pipelineinclude names like Kaumudy TV (by Kerala Kaumudi) and Raj News Malayalam (test runs are on for both the channels), Media One, scheduled to be launched in August this year, Zee Malayalam, Asianet Chiri, Janapriya TV and Kairali Arabia, apart from the two channels by Mathrubhumi.

Mathrubhumi News will be a hard core news channel with features forming an important part of the content mix. Kumar informs that both the channels will be free-to-air (FTA) and the group is eyeing to place them in the prime band across Kerala.The group is also in discussions with DTH players to reach out to various parts of the world wherever there are prospective audiences, including West Asia. However, during the initial phase, the focus will be on establishing the channels in Kerala.

Mathrubhumi News will face competition from Indiavision, a Malayalam news channel from Indiavision Satellite Communications; Asianet News from Asianet; People TV from Kairali; Reporter TVfrom Indo-Asian News channel and Manorama News, the channel from its arch rival in the print domain, Malayala Manorama.

Via afaqs

 

[Karthik]

Good news for malayalam people.

 

[Karthik]

Notable channels: raj news malayalam
zee malayalam.

 

[Johny]

Mathrubhumi News started their news channel in test mode almost 2 months before, Also 3-region named channels (north, south & central) - total 4-channels available in IS-17 from the tp 4005 H 14400.

Awaiting for the Music channel.

 

[Bapun]

Notable channels: raj news malayalam
zee malayalam.

Yes, hope these two channels will too get success... :k

 

[tech_genie]

Print major Mathrubhumi Group is set foray into the satellite television space in Malayalam with two new channels - Mathrubhumi News and a specialty channel Kappa. Both channels are slated for launch in January 2013.

According to Shreyams Kumar, director, Mathrubhumi Group, Mathrubhumi News would be the first to go on air. The 24-hour news channel, which will compete with the likes of Asianet News, Manorama News, Reporter TV, India Vision and others, will go on air the first week of January 2013. Mathrubhumi unveiled the logo of the channel recently.

Mohan Nair, a former CEO of Asianet, will head the Group’s foray into television as CEO. Nair also had a stint with Sri Lankan media conglomerate Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation. Meanwhile, Unni Balakrishnan has been roped in as editor of the news channel.

Kumar said that Mathrubhumi would attempt to make a mark in the news space with its ‘unique and distinctive’ style. “The news presentation and delivery (on the channel), we will be based on the USP of the newspaper - sincerity and credibility,” he said.

Music channel

The second channel from Mathrubhumi stable has been christened as Kappa. Kappa is an entertainment channel with the heady mix of entertainment, music, lifestyle shows and trivia. Kappa will go on air from the second week of January 2013, informed Kumar. Both the channels are free-to-air and will be available on multiple DTH platforms, according to the group’s director.

Kappa’s packaging would be unique and different from all the other existing channels, explained Kumar. It will cater to the ‘upwardly mobile young’ audience.