MUMBAI: The Prannoy Roy family, which promotes NDTV Ltd, has decided to launch a general entertainment channel through a separate company.

According to an information available with Indiantelevision.com the Roys' have located an investor who is likely to hold up to five per cent stake in the proposed company. This will probably be a 'foreign origin' investor, according to sources.

The general entertainment channel is likely to be launched in 18 to 24 months time, subject to government and regulatory approvals.

"The idea of floating a separate company for the launch of the general entertainment channel will give the promoters the flexibility to tap foreign investors," the source said. According to the uplinking norms, news channels have a cap of 26 per cent foreign holding.

The proposed entertainment channel is part of Roy's bigger game plan of having a bouquet of channels to address various segments of the audience.