Reliance & CBS Studios to Launch Channels in India

MUMBAI: A new 50/50-owned joint venture from Reliance Broadcast Network and CBS Studios International will, at its inception, see the creation of three new TV channels in India.

The venture is called BIG CBS Networks, offering three channels. BIG CBS Prime is a general-entertainment channel. BIG CBS Spark is a youth service. BIG CBS Love is geared toward women. A number of new CBS series will be included in the lineup, such as Hawaii Five-0, The Defenders and Blue Bloods, along with current hits such as NCIS, Survivor, CSI, 90210, America’s Next Top Model and Entertainment Tonight. Library titles include the original Melrose Place, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Frasier and Charmed. The channels will also feature acquired content from third-party suppliers, and original English-language productions will be considered for the future.

The English-language channels will be customized for the Indian market. These will launch in the fourth quarter of 2010. The three channels will be available on digital and analogue platforms across the Indian subcontinent, covering India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Pakistan.

Tarun Katial, the CEO of Reliance Broadcast Network, said, "We are proud to announce our joint venture with CBS, America’s leading television broadcaster. This is truly a landmark moment not just for us but the entire Reliance ADA Group, with our first step into the television broadcasting space. We see great opportunity in the Indian television industry which projects high growth rate, and we are confident that our deep understanding of the Indian consumer’s entertainment requirement and advertiser needs, coupled with CBS’ reputation for creating superior content, will offer unmatched and pioneering entertainment to audiences in India and across the Indian subcontinent."

"Reliance is an international media and entertainment powerhouse and the perfect partner for CBS to expand further into India," added Armando Nunez, the president of CBS Studios International. "The vast programming, production and media resources of our two companies position us extremely well to serve audiences, advertisers and all constituents of these new channels. This is an exciting alliance with potential for amazing synergies and new opportunities for our companies in one of the world’s most dynamic business and media markets."