ETV Network set to shut down ETV Abhiruchi HD and ETV Life HD

ETV Network is all set to trim down on its High Definition (HD) offerings with the shutdown of its two existing HD channels namely ETV Abhiruchi HD and ETV Life HD which was launched at the end of 2018. The shutdowns will likely happen next month on 16th October 2020 when the new Reference Interconnect Offer sets in.

Eenadu TV has recently notified a new Reference Interconnect Offer which will set into effect from 16th October 2020 with the existing Reference Interconnect Offer being superseded. Eenadu TV has dropped both ETV Abhiruchi HD and ETV Life HD from its rate card which hints at the imminent shutdown of the channel.

A recent press release from Eenadu TV marking the 25 year of operations also only mentioned 7 Standard Definition (SD) channels and 3 High Definition (HD) channels failing to highlight ETV Abhiruchi HD and ETV Life HD indicating that the shutdown plans were in motion by then.

Eenadu TV’s portfolio will be trimmed down to 10 channels consisting of 7 SD and 3 HD channels cometh 16th October which corroborates with what is mentioned in the press release.

Eenadu TV had back in 2018 strengthened its HD offerings with the launch of ETV Life HD, ETV Abhiruchi HD, ETV Plus HD, and ETV Cinema HD. These HD channels however haven’t on boarded any DTH operators till date stunting the reach of the HD channels which are only available on select cable TV operators in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Prior to April 2020, Eenadu TV used to handle the distribution for ETV Network channels in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana looking after the deals with MSOs while Indiacast Media was the authorized distribution agent across India for ETV Network bar Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

ETV Network earlier this year took reins of its distribution mandate completely in-house breaking away from Indiacast Media. ETV Network however hasn’t yet been able to distribute its HD channels onboard any DTH platform which remains only limited to MSOs in and around Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.