MUMBAI: ESPN-Star Sports, a fifty-fifty joint venture between Star Television and ESPN started in 1996, is launching India's first live sports news programme on September 25.

While talking to the press conference in Mumbai, Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN Software India said, "Sportsline is one of the biggest in-house programming initiatives for the company. Sportsline will provide the Indian sports fans the most up-to-date news and best sporting action around the world."

Sportsline will be featured three times a day with three repeat telecasts. Sportsline Today, the morning bulletin, is scheduled for 7:00am every weekday morning, which will be updated version of previous night's news. Sportsline Tonight, the evening news bulletins, will be telecast live at 7:30pm and 10:00pm.

Through the half-hour, the news will contain various elements such as international headline news, cricket news, football wrap-up, India diary, sponsored section, cricket rankings, India results and play of the day.

The programmes will be anchored by John Dykes, Alan Wilkins and Misha Grewal, Harsha Bhogale will be exclusive 'onground' hosts. Sunil Gavaskar and Geoff Boycott will be special guests on the show to provide exclusive insights, analysis and forecasts about on-going cricket matches.

ESPN Star has tied up with the various agencies as well as channels for programmes. Dez Carckhill will be the producer.

When asked about the growing competition in Sports channels market, Mr Sawhney while welcoming the healthy competition which can give quality programmes to the viewers, did remark that ESPN Star Sports has already build its brands over the last four years as quality programme provider.

The subscription fees for the ESPN Star Sports is not going to be increased in near future.