NEW DELHI: NDTV is readying for the launch of MetroNation Chennai in April while cutting costs in MetroNation Delhi to keep losses in check amid an economic downturn.

Jennifer Arul is the managing editor of the channel. “We have already hired about 100 people and will be launching MetroNation Chennai in April,” says NDTV MetroNation CEO Rajiv Lulla.

As reported first in Indiantelevision.com, NDTV will launch the Chennai city-centric channel through a joint venture company with the Hindu Group where it will hold 51 per cent stake.

So what led to the delay when the channel was supposed to launch last year? "There were licence issues and it took us time arranging for everything,” says Lulla.

Meanwhile, NDTV has scaled down the operations of MetroNation Delhi by axing jobs and reducing fresh programming on the city-specific channel for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The channel has converted its mobile studio, ‘The Metronation Bus,’ into a mobile election studio to be used by the two sister news channels, NDTV 24X7 and NDTV India.

"MetroNation is a resilient and nimble channel. We are cutting costs and will hire people when the time is right,” says Lulla.