Mumbai: The promoters of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd (DCHL), Hyderabad-based publisher of newspapers and owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Deccan Chargers, have pledged 54 per cent stake to Future Capital Holdings Ltd.

The promoter holding in DCHL at the end of June 2012 was 73.83 per cent with T Venkaram Reddy, T Vinayak Ravi Reddy and P K Iyet owning 24.61 per cent stake each, according to information on the National Stock Exchange.

In a filing to the stock exchanges, Future Capital Holdings said over 112.8 million shares (or 54 per cent) of DCHL have been pledged by the promoters as part of collateral for funds borrowed by DCHL and a company named, Aviotech Private Ltd. The amounts of borrowings by DCHL from Future Capital were not disclosed.

DCHL‘s annual report for 2011-12 is not available. According to the company‘s 2010-11 annual report, DCHL had loans of Rs 3.13 billion but also had cash and bank balances of Rs 7.03 billion as on March 31, 2011.

DCHL shares fell 19 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange to close at Rs 18.55 per share on the pledging of a substantial portion of the promoter shareholding. DCHL‘s share price has fallen from a high of Rs 73.50 per share as on July 29, 2011.

The market value of the 54 per cent of the shares pledged works out to Rs 2.43 billion.

DCHL is the publisher Deccan Chronicle, a leading English newspaper in South India with a circulation of over 1.45 million copies per day across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. DCHL also publishes ‘Asian Age‘, an English daily newspaper in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and London, a financial English daily ‘Financial Chronicle‘ from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai and a Telugu Daily, weekly, monthly, all titled ‘Andhra Bhoomi‘ in Andhra Pradesh. DCHL also owns a chain of 50 retail stores of lifestyle products, including books, music, stationery, gifts, toys, pens, and eye ware.

MUMBAI: Discovery?s Tamil channel will celebrate the Tamil New Year on 13 April, with a line-up of programmes showcasing the history, art and traditions of Tamil Nadu.

The shows will air from 2 ? 6 pm on Discovery Channel Tamil.

From ancient temples to the ingenious tribes and exotic jewellery, ?Tamil New Year Special? will celebrate its glorious past, magnificence and rich heritage.

Discovery South Asia senior VP, GM Rahul Johri said, ?The special line-up is an offering to engage and entertain the audience with the best of programming showcasing Tamil Nadu.?

The Tamil New Year Special will kick off with ?Oh My Gold!?. The show?s host Lisa Ray, showcasing the art of temple jewellery-making, will delve into Tamil Nadu?s extravagant jewellery tradition and rich cultural fabric.

?The Lost Temples Of India?, meanwhile, journeys to Tamil Nadu to give viewers a taste of the majestic and splendid temples in Southern India. ?The Irulas Of Tamil Nadu? explores the lives of one of the rare tribes in India ? the Irulas. Each programme included in the ?Tamil New Year Special? has been selectively programmed to highlight a different facet of Tamil Nadu ? history, art, travel, food and culture, their sustainable lifestyle, social fabric, vibrant culture and unique tradition.