SABe TV, the Hindi entertainment channel promoted by the Adhikari brothers, which had announced a new programming schedule earlier in the month, will introduce the new roster on 3 September.

Paisa Vasool - Thursdays at 8 pm.

The new programming (click here for earlier report) is centred around three shows - Office Office and new shows Dial 100 and Paisa Vasool, part of a rejigg that the channel carries through every quarter, Markand Adhikari, vice-chairman and managing director Sri Adhikari Brothers Televison Network Ltd, says.

SABe TV, which lays claim to the the number four spot in the Hindi channel stakes after Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony Entertainment Television, is steadily closing the gap on the the Big Three, Adhikari says.

The new programming is set to kick off on 3 September and is marked as a weekdays line-up. Divided into two bands - an afternoon and a prime time band - the first (12:30 pm to 3 pm) is targetted at housewives while the prime time band (6:30 pm to 10 pm) is for the whole family.

Office Office - Monday to Thursday at 8 pm.

Dial 100 - Monday to Thursday at 8:30 pm.

The launch of the new shows will be also see a major promotional push, Adhikari said. Towards this end, 50 commuter trains have been booked in Mumbai, and over 500 kiosks in Delhi.

Can the industry finally look forward to the Convergence Bill seeing the light of day, at least in Parliament? Well if clued-in sources are to be believed it well may. The date: tomorrow, 31 August 2001, the final day of the monsoon session of Parliament.
It is the communications ministry which will reportedly steer the bill on the floor of the house. And it will be done at the hands of minister Ram Vilas Paswan, so say the sources. Apparently, the law ministry has gone over it with a comb and the final bill is in the process of printing today.

Presidential clearance is likely to be organised today from his secretariat.
The only delay to the introduction of the bill tomorrow could be the passing away of Trianmul Congress leader G.K. Mopanar this morning.