UTV Rolls Out New Indian News Channel

MUMBAI, April
2: India’s competitive news network landscape has a new player in the form of
UTVi, an English-language business news channel that is launching with content
from Disney-ABC International Television.

The deal marks
greater collaboration between the Indian media group UTV Software
Communications and The Walt Disney Company; in February, Disney lifted its
stake in UTV from 13.7 percent to 32.1 percent. When Disney acquired the initial
stake it also bought from UTV the Indian kids’ channel Hungama TV.

The alliance
announced today brings ABC News programming and services to the UTVi channel.
Announcing the partnership, Ronnie Screwvala, the CEO of UTV Software
Communications, said: “The English business news segment reflects a huge
opportunity. To date the first mover in the business television space occupies
80 percent market share—which to us reflects a tremendous untapped
opportunity. With UTV's experience in content, business and broadcasting, and
with one of the best teams assembled, we feel extremely excited to enter this
space.

“Our tie up
with ABC News will not only bring international perspective, but with their
prowess in news and feature shows, add that cutting edge that our viewers will
want from a well rounded business channel."

Arun Anant, the
CEO of UTVi, added: “UTVi will be India's most powerful, interactive news and
information network. We will connect real time news through multiple platforms
like television, web and mobile. UTVi will be a business news channel going
beyond the stock markets."

—By
Mansha Daswani