MUMBAI: The big fight in the news space is about to become even bigger. The Prannoy Roy-promoted New Delhi Television (NDTV) Ltd has announced its intentions to launch a fourth news channel.

The big question of course is just what will this channel entail? Indiantelevision.com put the question to NDTV Ltd director Narayan Rao but he would offer nothing in addition to the posting put out today on the Bombay Stock Exchange (on the NSE as well) that stated: "New Delhi Television (NDTV) Ltd has informed BSE that an application has been made to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on May 16, 2005 for permission to uplink Company's 4th Channel i.e. a News Channel."

A government offcial in the evening confirmed the move in Delhi, saying that since the proposal was sent in yesterday, it'd be too early to give a time frame for its clearance.

"Though we don't see any problem in NDTV seeking an uplink permission for another channel, the procedure may take its own time," the official added. On a fast track basis, such a proposal can be processed in 15 days time or could also take up to three months time.

As regards the fourth channel from the NDTV stable, the buzz doing the rounds currently is that it is likely to cover infotainment and news - as in a high dose of lifestyle driven programming (a la Discovery), news and current affairs.