Raghav Bahl's Global Broadcast to foray into regional news channels, Marathi the first launch

MUMBAI: In the race for launching regional news channels, TV18 Group promoter Raghav Bahl seems to have finalised his first step. He is planning to launch a Marathi news channel under Global Broadcast News (GBN), the company that houses English news channel CNN-IBN.

GBN is likely to partner with a media company for the venture, a source close to the company says. "The plan is to tie up with a media player. This will involve an equity relationship as well. The finer details are being worked out," he adds.

Bahl had earlier told Indiantelevision.com that he was closely examining the regional news space as an important growth segment. Under TV18 fall the two business channels CNBC TV18 and Awaaz, while GBN will hold all ventures in the general news space.

The Marathi regional news space will see a flurry of action. Zee has already launched Zee 24 Taas as part of its "region-specific strategy." Other players keen to enter are Star Ananda and Hyderabad-based TV9.

Also eyeing the regional news space is India TV which recently announced it would launch in Gujarati and Punjabi languages within a year.

GBN, which captures the revenues from CNN-IBN and Hindi news channel IBN 7, has identified expansion in the area of regional news channels. The company is eyeing opportunities in the southern languages as well, the source says.