MUMBAI: Print major Malayala Manorama will launch its news channel Manorama News on 12 July, thus marking the company's foray into the broadcast business. The channel will launch under the banner of Manorama's television division MM TV.

According to market sources, MM TV has roped in former Maxus hand Anil George as its chief operating officer. George bid adieu to Maxus as the company's Bangalore GM in June this year. George, an IIM Bangalore alumnus, started his career with the UB group and has had stints in Lintas and Initiative.

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 as well.

The sources add that MM TV has plans to launch a general entertainment channel also, but in the next phase.

Till Now, Manorama's interest in the electronic media business has been limited to its activites in the television software realm, driven by its production house Manorama Vision.