MUMBAI: The Television Eighteen Group (TV18) and the National Stock Exchange have come together to form the NSE-TV18 Media Centre.

CNBC AWAAZ went live this morning from the NSE-TV18 Media Centre housed at the NSE premise in Mumbai. The partnership aims to provide a platform to bring real-time reportage, corporate earnings and discussions with company management to a larger national and international audience.

On the launch of the NSE TV18 Media Centre, Television Eighteen India Limited managing director Raghav Bahl 'We believe that this is a concrete step further in enhancing levels of transparency and communication with investors. This is a first in the history of the Indian stock markets and TV18 is extremely proud to partner India's leading stock exchange, the NSE.'

National Stock Exchange managing director Ravi Narain added, 'The setting up of the media centre is a step in line with global practices. Most of the leading exchanges worldwide have set up such platforms for real time coverage of markets. This I believe takes the exchange to the doorstep of the investor.'

CNBC Awaaz editor Sanjay Pugalia also pointed out, 'CNBC Awaaz has successfully completed 2 years in India and is the fastest growing channel in the country today. CNBC Awaaz cuts through jargon and gives information in a language understood by everyone, reaching out to a wider audience and that is the reason why CNBC AWAAZ is solely responsible for 55% growth in the business genre viewership. The partnership with NSE is our endeavour to make real time stock market information available for the investors'.

The 'e-inauguration' beamed live on CNBC AWAAZ and was simulcasted on other TV18 network channels.Speaking on the occasion finance minister P Chidambaram said, 'It is now time to focus our efforts on making information available instantaneously to the entire target audience - domestic and overseas. The joint initiative of TV18 and NSE to set up a media centre to bring real time linkages between markets, corporates and investing communities, live from the media centre is a step in this direction. I am sure that this would bring the viewer closer and will improve the level of communication between the company management and the shareholders'.

Market hour programming on CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz will go live from the NSE.Also earnings coverage of NSE listed companies and listings on the NSE will be announced live from the NSE TV18 media centre.