Starting October, ADAG may beam a channel a month

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Mumbai, Aug 24: Reliance Entertainment, part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), is expected to start launching its bouquet of 20 television channels, starting with one channel a month from early October, highly placed industry sources said.

Earlier, reports had speculated that the company will launch two to three channels by the year-end and another four to five channels early next year.

However, a source close to the development said, “If all goes well, we will be launching at least one channel a month, from October.” Sources also disclosed that the ministry of information and broadcasting has given its clearance for the 20-channel bouquet to ADAG.

It is also learnt that the channel arm of Reliance Big Entertainment will be named Reliance Big Broadcasting Limited. Ashutosh, formerly business head of Sahara Film, who was instrumental in launching the film channel, is understood to be the person to head ADAG’s TV arm. ADAG has already signed a deal with AsiaSat for a transponder for the channels rollout.

PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that the Indian television industry is projected to grow by 22% over the next five years, and reach an estimated Rs 60,000 crore in revenue by 2010 from the current Rs 22,600 crore.

When contacted, Reliance Entertainment president Rajesh Sawhney declined to comment on the plans. Media planners say that it’s most likely that the company makes its debut in the broadcast space with music and movie channels.

The movie channel will showcase the movies produced by the company’s film production division Adlabs, like Sarkar Raj, Love Story 2050, Singh is Kinng and others. Sources also say that the bouquet of channels will include a variety of niche channels like travel, cooking, motoring, and those for the youth and children, among others.

The general entertainment channels will be in line with those of existing competitors Zee, Star Plus, Sony Entertainment and others.