MUMBAI: The Bengali regional news channel space is getting crowded and how. Close on the heels of Rathikant Basu's Tara Bangla morphing from an entertainment channel into a news channel, the Sahara Group is is all set make an entry into this space.

Sahara Samay-Kolkata --- following in the footsteps of region-specific channels from the stable in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Delhi --- is targeting a May launch.

As per information available with Indiantelevision.com, the proposed Bengali news channel will stream programmes on Kolkata as prime time shows in a market that is likely to get further heated up with the impending introduction of a similar fare from Media Content and Services India Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between ABP Group and Star.

The channel will have specific shows dedicated to the lifestyle of the city named ‘Metro’. The show will identify and look at isues beyond politics for which Bengalis and Kolkata is more famous for.

When contacted, however, Sahara India Media & Entertainment declined to offer any details relating to the proposed Bengali news channel, including who would be heading the channel.

Kolkata entertainment industry sources do indicate, however, that Prosenjit (son of yesteryear’s film actor Biswajeet), a popular figure in the Kolkata media circuit, is likely to play an important role in the channel. The Bengali channel will beam via AsiaSat 3S, which at present plays home to over 70 channels, including CNBC, CNN International, ESPN, Star and Sun TV.

The Bengali regional market would be witnessing heightened action when MCCS enters the fray with its Bangla news channel. Southern media powerhouse Sun Network is also planning to launch an entertainment channel called Surjo some time later this year.