MUMBAI: 9X Media, the company controlled by private equity firm New Silk Route, is launching its 24-hour contemporary Punjabi music channel, 9X Tashan, on 31 August.

The Punjabi channel?s tagline is "Yaaran Da". It will have Punjabi music videos including folk, popular and Bollywood.

9X Tashan will be streamed live online on the channel?s website, www.9xtashan.in, and on the mobile platform.

9X Tashan will have a theme song which has been recorded with singers and musicians from the Punjab region. The number, titled ?Tashan? Yaaran Da?, has been recorded by singers including Wadali Brothers, Jaspinder Narula, Inderjeet Nikku, Nachhatar Gill, Feroz Khan, Jaidev Kumar, Sardool and Sikander.

The music is composed by Jaidev Kumar with lyrics by Baljinder S. Mahant, the programming head for 9X Tashan.

Indiantelevision.com had first reported that the Punjabi channel would be launched this month-end.

The channel will also air a series of humorous animated shows presented by animated characters who are part of the 9X Tashan Gang. The gang will entertain viewers with jokes, and anecdotes from Punjab.

The Bade-Chote animated characters on 9XM are now set to entertain the Punjabi speaking viewers with their animated show called Bakwaas Band Kar -- in a Punjabi avatar. Other characters include Bhabi, Falli -- Balli, and Ullu Da Patha.

9X Tashan will have to contest in a market that is flooded with channels like PTC Chak De, ETC Punjabi, Balle Balle, Lashkara and MH1. And to find distribution on cable networks, the channel has earmarked a budget of Rs 60 million on distribution in the Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh (PHCHP) markets.

The company believes that with a targeted approach, the channel will have an edge over the others. A senior sales executive said that even though the PHCHP belt is a B1 market for sectors like telecom, automobiles, beverages and FMCG, there is potential to expand the ad pie.

9X Media Group SVP and business head Punit Pandey said, "The channel will offer a wholesome dose of entertainment to all Punjabi music aficionados. 9X Tashan will air the latest and best Punjabi music across all genres - pop, romance, underground, action, folk, etc - interspersed with rib-tickling short episodes of characters created in 3D animation. We plan to create a loyal viewer following with our animated characters similar to that of 9XM."

9X Tashan MD Sandip Bansal MD added, "We are pleased to partner with 9X Media Group and launch a channel that combines the traditional and modern sounds coupled with the vibrant colours of Punjab. 9X Tashan has an up-tempo, vibrant, happy and humorous personality."

MUMBAI: UTV Software Communications is launching UTV Stars simultaneously in India and the Middle East from 19 August.

UTV has collaborated with telecom operator and TV services provider Etisalat for the channel?s launch in the Middle East.

With the launch of the new channel, UTV strengthens its presence in UAE through Etisalat which also showcases UTV Bindass and UTV Movies in the region.

UTV Stars is the first Indian High Definition Bollywood Entertainment channel to be telecast in the UAE.

Said UTV CEO-Broadcasting MK Anand, ?The launch of UTV Stars reiterates our understanding of what the audiences need and our endeavor to fulfill that need gap by giving them exclusive and never seen before Bollywood content. UAE is a very important market as it has a large Indian diaspora which is crucial to tap and Etisalat provides the perfect platform to reach out to them. This will be the first time that an Indian channel will be simultaneously launched in India and UAE ensuring maximum reach from day one. It also gives us immense pleasure to be the first Indian Bollywood Entertainment channel to launch in High Definition in UAE and target the chunk of Bollywood enthusiasts residing in the region. ?

Etisalat is the first operator in the region to offer UTV Stars to its customers in the UAE as part of its ?eLife TV Basic Asian? choice package.

UTV Stars is a mass specialty entertainment channel, dedicated exclusively to Bollywood.

Etisalat CEO Rashid Sahoo Humaid said: ?We are very pleased to welcome UTV Stars on our platform. The addition of this first High Definition Bollywood Entertainment channel further strengthens our repertoire of entertainment options provided to our valuable customers and also substantiates our commitment to offer the best-in-class TV entertainment to our viewers.?

MUMBAI: Machdar Motorsports is hoping to do for motorsports what the Indian Premier League (IPL) has done for cricket. The motorsports management company has launched the i1 super series, a franchise-based model consisting of nine teams in seven cities involving 14 races.

The nine franchises are being sold at a base price of $5 million by invitation only.

Conducted under the aegis of the world governing body FIA (Federation Internationale de l‘Automobile ) and the Federation of Motor Sports clubs of India (FMSCI), the i1 Super Series event will kick off on 18 December in Noida. It will also have races in Chennai, Pattaya, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
 
"We are speaking to cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Bollywood stars for funds. We hope to finalise deals next month. We want franchise owners who are passionate about developing the event,? 1 Super Series managing director Darshan M said.

The franchises are expected to recoup their investments in the fourth year. "In addition to the fee, the franchises will spend around $2.5-3 million a year. An entity will own a franchise for 15 years. Each team will race with two cars forming an 18 car grid. We have identified 10 cities including the major metros where franchises will be located,? said Darshan.

Sixty per cent of the central revenue pool will go to the franchises. The coverage of the events will be in high-definition.

?We are talking to different parties regarding television production and coverage. Each race will be of 45 minutes and it will be a sprint format rather than an endurance one. There will also be television specials around each race. We are offering $2 million in prize money,? said Darshan.

The cost of running an event will be around $12-15 million. Apart from television fees and sponsorship, merchandise and hospitality are some of the other revenue sources for the franchises.

Franchises will have a pool of experienced drivers to choose from. "We will hold on-ground ?Festivals Of Speed? to market the event. This will have features like drag races and drifting. There will be music and entertainment to bring people closer to the experience. In the long run, we want to set up academies and minor leagues. We will launch a foundation to support talent,? said Darshan.

The company is also looking at doing an event for motorbikes, probably next year. "The aim is to be like the MotoGP. We want to create a brand that can engage with sponsors, manufacturers, circuits and partners and encourage Indian motorsport to become internationally known and respected," said Darshan.