MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment Television Asia has entered into a distribution agreement with Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) Canada, a leader in the provision of South Asian television services in that territory.

According to a statement by Sony Entertainment Television, chief executive officer,Kunal Dasgupta, Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia) will commence operations in Canada today,

" We are delighted with our partnership with Sony Entertainment Television, an organization that is backed by Sony Pictures Television International, which was earlier known as Columbia TriStar International Television. We expect to tier this impressive channel with our current licensed service, subject to regulatory approval, to offer a compelling package of a South Asian bouquet of channels in Canada," ATN president and chief executive officer, Shan Chandrasekar is quoted as saying in a press release.

ATN currently owns and operates four South Asian channels and has been awarded licenses for eight more digital channels. Amongst the new licenses one is in collaboration with Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) and the Sports Network (TSN) and the second in collaboration with Vision TV and Radio Nord. ATN is a publicly trading company, quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange as YTN.