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JAIN TV MAKES A COMEBACK
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member
of parliament and wannabe television baron Dr J.K. Jain can
arguably be called a pioneer in the use of electronic media
for electoral canvassing. Jain had started a television channel
Jain TV off a Russian satellite in early 1994 but ran into
trouble when he made the BJP see red over what were termed
as `blue' films which were telecast on Jain TV. He had to
shut down the channel following a shutting off of financing
from non-resident Indians in 1996.
But Jain is back once again. This time with
a safer product - a news and current affairs satellite channel.
Jain insists that JAIN is not an acronym and is very much
a channel named after his family name. (JAIN earlier stood
for Joint American Indian Network). He also brushes aside
allegations that the channel is being funded by the BJP.
"What rubbish? If I had to start something
with the party fund, I would have done it earlier. Moreover,
my business plan is too extensive to be a short-lived affair",
says the never-say-die doctor.
Jain has been working on the channel for nearly
a year now and he had even made enquiries about leasing a
transponder on Insat-2E. But he says he took the decision
to re-start the channel now as elections are the best time
to cash in on the viewing fever in India.
"There is no better time to start a news and
current affairs channel meant for India than election time.
Remember, even Star News was started some months before the
last general elections in 1998," he says.
Jain points out that Jain Studios Ltd (JSL),
which manages the affairs of Jain TV, is building a gateway/earth
station on the outskirts of Delhi.
"JSL will be the country's first private gateway.
We have already filed papers for applications and clearances
are expected soon," says Jain, adding, "We already have a
licence to be an ISP."
According to him, the project will need initial
investments of about Rs 500 million and his company is negotiating
with Indian financial institutions like the IDBI and UTI for
future funding.
"UTI has already agreed to extend us some loan
and may also take equity position in the company sometime
in the future," says the portly man who has brought together
an editorial team for Jain TV consisting mostly of former
BiTV employees.
Jain TV is currently beaming from Thaicom-3
and, points out Jain, the transponder has been leased for
five years.
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