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"We plan to launch another channel. The plans for
the same are in the final stages, and the channel is
expected to start broadcasting by mid-February 2003,"
a TV Today statement, quoting company chief executive
G Krishnan, said today.
The statement further quoted Krishnan as saying, "We
are extremely thankful for the unparalleled support
extended to us by our viewers. The last two years have
been very fruitful and encouraging, and to take
forward the India Today Group legacy of credible,
reliable and timely news."
Meanwhile, Subroto Roy's Sahara has also announced plans to launch
more than 30 news channels which will be targeted at various regions
of the country. The first two: the national news channel and Sahara
Samay Uttar (meant for the state of Uttar Pradesh from where the
promoters hail) have been slated for launch in February 2003.
TV Today Network's Aaj Tak Hindi news channel has
raced to the top using a new idiom of aggressive
language to tap the vast Hindi-speaking market (as
also attracting a section of the English-speaking
audience)to be adjudged and viewed as the country's
`best news channel.'
However, TV Today Network's job to launch a new news
channel will not be that easy even as continuing to
protect its No. 1 position via Aaj Tak.
Aaj Tak, for example, has been invaded by media
poachers who are taking away talent from the channel.
Star anchor Dibang has already departed for NDTV and
some others, like Naghma and Prasoon Bajpayee, are
likely to follow him there. As per gossip in New Delhi,
Naghma is understood to have already quit Aaj Tak.
Some others like news producer Alok Sharma and
reporter Prabhat Shungloo have quit to join Star for
the revamped Star News, post 31 March 2003. Shungloo,
it is understood, has joined Star as the Delhi bureau
chief.
But knowing the India Today Group and Krishnan, they
would leave no stone unturned to make a success story
of the proposed news channel too.
"The ad pie for the news channel market is growing and
is expect to reach Rs 500 crore ( Rs 5000 million) in the next two
years. Of this, we expect to garner a major share,"
Krishnan said, adding, "Contrary to popular belief,
Aaj Tak's advertising rates are the highest in the
industry, but media planners still prefer the channel
because it provides optimum mileage and return on
investment."
The TV Today statement also highlighted that fact Aaj
Tak leads the number game and presently enjoys 55 per
cent market share amongst news channels and a
reach of 30 million households, the highest amongst
the news channels.
The statement, quoting data, further adds that the
"growth of the news channel market was driven by
Aaj Tak."
"The company has a number of other ambitious plans to
make itself the biggest media conglomerate in the
Asian region. Apart from the scheduled launch of
another channel in the Indian market, TVTN also plans
to take Aaj Tak into the UK and the USA markets, as
well as to make Aaj Tak a pay channel in the Indian
sub-continent," the statement said.
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