MUMBAI: The Malayalam print major Malayala Manorama is looking to launch its news channel Manorama News by the month of May. The channel will launch under the banner of Manorama's newly formed television division MM TV.

The company has almost completed the recruitment drive and presently, fine-tuning of the technology features is being carried out.

"We haven't zeroed in on the launch date yet, but it may happen by the month of May. We want to enter the market well prepared, complete to the final details," says Johny Lukose, who will lead the news team in the capacity of news director.

Lukose said Manorama News would have a team of about 100 journalists, and 80 per cent of the appointments have already been completed. The channel will also leverage strength from the wide network of journalists working for the print establishment Malayala Manorama. Former Asianet news editor K Jaideep will report to Lukose as coordinating editor of the channel.

Manorama News will be headquartered in Aroor, near Kochi, where the company has set up its news studio. Two smaller studios have been set up in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

MM TV has also finalised the logo for the news channel. The logo, which shows three geometrical designs coming together to form the letter M, is created by Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcast).

Lukose added that the channel would be backed by news broadcasting's latest technology. Some of the latest technology features the channel has signed up include the IconMasterT system for master control with embedded multi-layer branding. The software is developed by the US-headquartered Harris Broadcast Communications.