NDTV Imagine, the entertainment arm of Prannoy Roy-led NDTV group, which is best known for its news channels, is planning to launch regional language channels next year. For the purpose, NDTV group may consider acquiring some regional players in the vernacular space.

While confirming the plan to launch regional channels in the coming year, Samir Nair CEO, NDTV Imagine refused to divulge the specific languages that the channel would make its foray into. “There are only eight major languages to choose from and some of the language markets are already saturated,” Nair said referring to the Dravidian languages of South India. According to Nair, the sensible option in such markets was to acquire existing channels and re-haul them to one’s desire. As reported by FE earlier, Star India is also entering into more regional languages.

On being asked whether NDTV Imagine is open to buying stakes in the production houses it is working with, Nair replied in the affirmative. “Yes, we are open to investing in the production houses. Such investments secure the (content) supply line and add to valuation.”

While in Star India, Nair had played a catalyst role when the media house bought a 26% stake in Balaji Telefilms, the production house best known for producing saas-bahu soaps.

Calling that move in Star a simple strategic step, Nair told FE that it was meant to protect the supply line of Star’s content and mar the prospects of any hostile takeover that the production house might have faced. Star Plus then was heavily dependent on Balaji Telefilms for content and any change in Balaji would have affected Star directly.

NDTV Imagine is also set to introduce a fresh set of weekend programmes this June onwards and has finalized talks with Gajendra Singh’s production house (of Sa-re-ga-ma-pa fame). The group is in talks with Balaji Telefilms and Aruna Irani’s production house to chalk out more programmes.

Some of the existing production houses in NDTV Imagine’s current stable are Hats off productions, Sol Productions, Sagar Arts, DJ’s creative unit, Sphere Origins, Rajshri films, Synergy Adlabs, Cinema vision India etc.

The Hindi General Entertainment Channels (GECs) space has heated up with the launch of NDTV Imagine and 9x in last seven months both headed by the two former top executives of Star India. NDTV Imagine claims to be undisputed number three in weekdays viewership while in overall TRPs competition among GECs, it is Sony, 9x and NDTV Imagine battling it out for the third slot.