Launch of UTVi - The English Business News Channel

Launch of UTVi - The English Business News Channel

Content tie up With ABC News - USA's Premiere News Source

MUMBAI, April 2/PRNewswire/ -- The Promoter group of India's leading Media & Entertainment Company, today announced the launch of UTVi, an English Business News Channel. The channel is positioned for the growing business aspirations of a Young India.

UTVi has also concluded a strategic content tie-up with Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), the international TV distribution arm of The Walt Disney Company, for ABC News programming and services. This collaboration offers UTVi audiences a global perspective and international programming.

Ronnie Screwvala - CEO UTV Software Communications Ltd. says, "The English Business News segment reflects a huge opportunity. To date the first mover in the Business television space occupies 80% 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.

Today, the young Indian, the entrepreneur, the CEO - all need to be globally informed and have a 360 degree perspective on Business, much more than stocks and shares, and that's what we aim to do at UTVi.

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."

ABC News President David Westin says, "We are pleased to be collaborating with UTVi in their new enterprise. This gives us an excellent opportunity to provide our reporting to the people of South Asia, as well as to enhance our coverage of news in the region. We also plan to work with our new colleagues at UTVi to create news programs and bulletins combining the expertise of both organizations for the benefit of the growing UTV audiences."

Arun Anant, CEO and Govindraj Ethiraj, Editor-in-Chief have between them built a strong and dynamic start up team to run the business. Recent addition to the team has been Sumit Gupta who takes over the role of Chief Operating Officer.

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

The programming of the channel will de-jargonize the financial markets.

Says Govindraj Ethiraj, Editor in Chief, UTVi, "UTVi is a product that is built on exhaustive consumer insights and understanding. Our aim is to grow the market for business news and information in India, as it is growing globally. We also believe that today's students, managers, businessmen and entrepreneurs want information and knowledge that empowers them from within India and the world at large. The service will also offer cutting edge shows on careers, technology, automobiles, travel and good living," he adds.

UTVi will have a look and feel, never seen by Indian Audiences before. Broadcast Design International, a California based, world renowned set designing agency has been retained to create the sets for the channel.The new dynamic graphics package and logo for UTVi News has been created by Renderon Broadcast Design, a Toronto based, award winning design, production and multimedia firm.

The countdown has begun! Keep tuned for UTVi...simplifying business!

About Unilazer:

Unilazer Limited - the holding company of the Promoter Group pioneered Cable TV in 1981 before founding UTV in 1991 which then went on to becoming India's foremost integrated Media & Entertainment Company with leadership position in 4 verticals that include Movies, TV Content, Interactive (Animation & Gaming) and Broadcasting.

About ABC News:

More people get their news from ABC News than from any other source. ABC News is responsible for all of the ABC Television Network's news programming on a variety of platforms: television, radio and the Internet. With an average television and radio audience of 180 million people in a given month, ABC News far surpasses the competition. More than 2,300 affiliate stations broadcast ABC News Radio's global news coverage. In addition, ABC News NOW is a 24-hour news and information network currently available to 42 million users across cable, broadband, and mobile platforms. NewsOne, the affiliate news service of ABC News, provides live and packaged news, sports, and weather reports to 200 ABC affiliates, as well as more than 30 domestic and international clients.

          Media Enquiries      The Walt Disney Company in India     UTV Software Communications Ltd.     Sesha Kanthamraju                    Preeti Puri Sharma     Seshasaye.Kanthamraju@disney.com     Head - Corporate Communications & PR     Tel. +91-98207-15609                 M: +91-98205-18218     Disney-ABC International Television  E: preeti@utvnet.com     (Asia Pacific)     Danielle Nasrallah     Danielle.nasrallah@disney.com     Tel: +852-2203-2352     Mob. +852-9261-2264  

Source: UTVi

The Walt Disney Company in India, Sesha Kanthamraju, Preeti Puri Sharma, Seshasaye.Kanthamraju@disney.com, Tel. +91-98207-15609, Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), Danielle Nasrallah, Danielle.nasrallah@disney.com, Tel: +852-2203-2352, Mob. +852-9261-2264; UTV Software Communications Ltd. Head - Corporate Communications & PR, M: +91-98205-18218, E: preeti@utvnet.com

---

Profile: International Entertainment