These days literally everyone is jumping onto the Internet bandwagon. And the latest to do so are none other than television channels.

Sony Entertainment Television, the Indian unit of Japan's Sony Corporation is on the verge of buying two Internet portals. This is all a part of Sony's plan to make it big in the Internet business in India.

In an interview to Reuters, Sony CEO Kunal Dasgupta said that the acquisition of the portals would help Sony access dedicated Internet communities such as youth, cricket fans, and a number of users hooked on music and films. The acquisitions which were expected to be announced later this month would help the Sony Group's plan to develop a central, or main, portal next year that encompasses all its activities in India and provide other services like e-mail, news updates and e-commerce.

Sony Entertainment Television recently joined Applitech Solution Ltd to start a youth portal called freshlimesoda.com in which Sony would hold 33 per cent in the venture and help in the content provision and marketing.

Also cashing in on the Net boom are none other than Sony's competitors like Zee Telefilms and News Television India Ltd. News Television already has a youth oriented web site in the form of www.vindia.com an extension of its Channel [V] brand.

And with zeenext always present......the race is really hotting up.