NXTDIGITAL – HITS network to discontinue 7 channels from 27th January 2021

Hinduja Group-owned NXTDIGITAL is all set to discontinue 7 state-run channels from its HITS network effective 27th January 2021. The company has put a banner on its website informing customers about the looming discontinuation of the channels from next week onwards.

“Dear All, Please note that, effective mid-night Wednesday 27th January 2021 following Channels will not be available on NXTDIGITAL-HITS network. DD Retro, DD Himachal Pradesh, DD Port Blair, DD Uttarakhand, Kishore Manch Channel, Panini Channel, Sharda Channel,” said NXTDIGITAL in a notice on its website.

The channels will be dropped from HITS platform. The company hasn’t mentioned anything about its CATV platform indicating that the discontinuation will be limited to HITS platform.

Panini, Sharda, and Kishore Manch channels were launched on pay-TV platforms last year after the request from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) in view of the COVID-19 lockdown. The channels offered curriculum-based course content for classes 3 to 12. Panini and Sharda were allocated to NIOS whereas Kishore Manch was allocated to NCERT.

DD Retro meanwhile was launched in April 2020 by Prasar Bharati to cater to nostalgic programs as people remained bound within home due to COVID-19 lockdown. The rest three channels are regional feeds of Doordarshan’s regional channels.