MUMBAI: Malayalam news channel Indiavision is beefing up its Middle East operations. Towards this end, the channel is expanding its news coverage in the area apart from launching a dedicated Middle East band - 10 pm to 1 am IST.

Indiavision is presently working out the final details to broadcast a one-hour daily news bulletin live from Dubai. According to Indiavision marketing head Issac Jacob, the live news telecast will be done through Dubai's Sama Communications Company Limited (Samacom), a vertically integrated satellite services provider that owns and operates its own communication infrastructure.

"We are planning to start our live news broadcast from Dubai in August. The cost and other details are being worked out now. With this, our Dubai bureau will turn full-fledged. We have already placed our stringers across the Middle East," says Jacob.

The promoters of Indiavision have floated a company called Indiavision International LLC to look after the Middle East operations and have also deployed a couple of key executives in the area. The company has set up its base in Dubai Media City.

As reported by indiantelevision.com earlier, the Saudi Arabia-based Al Rayes group has invested Rs 70 million in the channel's expansion project. According to market sources, the monthly expenditure for broadcasting live news from Dubai is estimated at 15,000 AED (Rs 177,826). Al Rayes is also looking after the marketing operations of the channel in the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia markets.

Indiavision joined Pehla's South Indian bouquet in April 2005. The channel has struck a minimum guarantee deal with Pehla where the DTH service provider will pay the channel Rs 20 million in the first year. The future of the deal depends on the channel's performance in the market.

Says Jacob, "We are responsible for recording a growth of 25 to 30 per cent by the first year to carry this arrangement forward."