Delhi based software provider Digital Broadcasting, has joined hands with Delany Productions, a software production house in Las Vegas with plans to launch "World of Women" channel in India on June 18. The WOW channel aims to provide a variety of programmes targeting urban women having varying interests and ages.

Estimated to cost Rs 120 crore, Digital Broadcasting has 31 per cent stake in the project while Dealny Productions holds 20 per cent of the equity. In coming three years the channel plans to invest RS 60 crore in the first year and expects to break even in the next three years, the Indian Express reported on Monday.

Indian Express quoted Rajiv Mishra, managing director of Digital Broadcasting, as saying the 24-hour free-to-air channel would penetrate 46 million cable households within six month of its launch. Eighty per cent of the programmes would be produced in India while the rest will be sourced from the US.

The channel‘s target audience also includes NRI households and the bilingual channel will also be aired in United States and United Kingdom. The company has tied up with DirecTV in Europe and the UK-based BskyB as their DTH operators, informs Mishra. In the initial period, viewing in the US will be delayed by 24 hours.

Overseas communications carrier and sole uplinking service provider Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd is working on providing digital uplinking facilities to encrypted channels from Indian soil. As part of that the company has selected a range of Taridan Scopus Codico platforms which are to be installed in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. The service will initially be available from Chennai‘s Ambattur uplink site where playout rooms will be provided at a price. It will be extended to the two other cities as and when the facilities are upgraded. No rates have been decided for the Multiple Channel Per Carrier (MCPC) services.
Prior to this, in nine different cities, Scopus had installed digital SCPC (Single Channel Per Carrier) systems that improve signal reach and quality.

The current installation covers the three major metros and Scopus has installed a number of MCPC systems. VSNL is using a Conditional Access System provided by Irdeto. Scopus digital platforms also enable VSNL to provide IP data services over these networks.

"VSNL is a very large part of the changing media landscape in India and now that we are part of their overachieving team, I am convinced that our digital tools will propel them even further," says Arie Vered, Scopus Sales and Marketing Director. "VSNL‘s selection of Scopus advances our growing interests in Asia and is a major confirmation for Scopus‘ technology and reputation."

Scopus has teamed up with MCBS (India) for project implementation and technical support.

Twenty weeks since Kerry Packer‘s HFCL Nine Broadcasting launched their serial on Doordashan Metro, the INTAM Television Viewer Ratings (TVRs) reflect that many of Nine Gold‘s serials are increasingly making their presence felt in cable and satellite homes.

Hoping to build on its gains, Nine Broadcasting has pitched for a 10-year contract for DD Metro with Prasar Bharati, the Economic Times reported on Saturday. It remains to be seen how newly installed CEO Anil Baijal responds to the offer. Considering how the profile of DD Metro has improved in this period, it will be an offer he finds difficult to refuse.

The TVRs indicate that Channel 9‘s programmes are scoring over that of DD1 with nearly 26 of its serials among the top 50 in all television homes. Telecast for three hours every day on DD Metro‘s prime time segment between 7.00 PM to 10.00 PM, 14 programmes are among the top 20 with two of its serials - "Superstars" and "Kundali" - sharing the second position with DD1‘s "Jai Hanuman" at 9.4 per cent TVR. In all non C&S homes DD1‘s "Suraag" leads with 27 per cent TVR followed by "Kundali" at 23 per cent.

Nine Broadcasting‘s five soaps figure among the top 50 in Ahmedabad (all C&S homes), with "Chonch Ladi Re Chonch" aired on Sundays at 8.33 PM with 8.9 TVRs while Star Plus‘s family soap "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" tops the chart at 21 per cent (Wed 10.32 PM).

Nine Broadcasting has paid Rs 1.21 million for the three hours of air-time on DD Metro.