MUMBAI: Another news channel has joined the 800-odd currently beaming into Indian homes. And it is coming courtesy the Subhash Chandra headed Zee group. Called Zee Hindustan, it was launched on 20 May, with an intent to “ bring to fore the voice of the common man, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.”

Its motto: State makes the Nation. And it has been positioned as Nai Bharat ka Naya News channel.”

While announcing the launch of Zee Hindustan, Esssel group chairman Subhash Chandra tweeted: “This was the day 91 years back when my great grandfather founded the firm, which is today's Essel, It is a coincidence that the MOU with Richard also was signed 25 years back on this day to hire a satellite for the first private TV channel Zee.”

Said Zee Media Corp Ltd executive director & CEO regional channels Jagdeesh Chandra: “In the present scenario, where other news channel from all the languages are busy discussing the national capital priorities, there will be one channel which will discuss the state’s news affairs which can influence the center. Why do states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Assam not set agendas in Delhi? The answer to these questions lie in zee Hindustan, because we believe that states make the nation. This picture will be the main focus of our special program 'राजधानी से राजधानी तक', which will be aired seven days a week at 7pm. Not just eight stories, but our special program will focus on 80 stories making it our agenda, Zee Hindustan will become voice of the nation. No TRP games. For this channel, every gram panchayat will be a TRP centre. We promise the country sacchhi khabar and acchhi khabar."

Zee Hindustan channel’s programing lineup includes ‘11 pm CM's Corner’ - a show that will broadcast stories of states' chief ninisters and the bureaucracy, The show is set to be broadcast five days a week, giving viewers the complete balance sheet of each state government's progress.

The Zee group runs a clutch of news channel under the Zee Media umbrella among which figure: Zee News, Zee Business, Zee Punjab, Haryana and Himachal, Zee 24 Taas, 24, Zee Madhya Pradesh , Chattisgarh, Zee Kalinga, Zee Rajasthan, Zee Marudhara, Zee Gantalu, and WION.

Zee Hindustan can be watched on channel 528 on Tata Sky, 675 on Dish, 339 on Airtel Digital, as well as on DD Direct. The company is in the process of tying up its carriage deals with cable TV MSOs nationally.