MUMBAI: Here is an announcement that seeks to marry television and reading. The 75-year-old Mumbai based publisher Popular Prakashan will bring content from broadcasters like Star onto the print medium.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Popular Prakashan CEO Harsha Bhatkal says, "We expect to release about 15 books in association with Star TV in 2003. They will be released across the country and not just in select markets. The first book Soul Curry for You and Me by Amitabh Bachchan has just been released. We have been working on this concept for almost two years now."
"We also manage a database company, Vans Information, where we have done considerable work in content management and data slicing. It was this background that gave us the idea of adapting electronic content to books." 
About aligning with broadcasters, Bhatkal says,"We are talking to several channels apart from Star TV and have received an excellent response. But it is premature to say anything more at this stage."
About content, Bhatkal says, "We are not looking at only children's books but at other material as well. The main criterion we are using is the content's adaptibility to book form and the possibility of having a long shelf life. This could also include horror, soaps, thrillers. Most of the content will be published in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali." 
"We are looking at the possibility of tie ups for other languages as well..All our agreements involve a revenue share with the copyright holder." Viewers can expect content from the likes of Son Pari and Star Talk.
Bhatkal however says Popular Prakashan was not looking at adapting TV serials from foreign networks like The Soprano's andThe West Wing.