Could MH1 launch without Vectone?

Punjabi entertainment channel MH1 could be launching without Vectone, it has emerged.

The channel was due to launch last month under the Vectone umbrella but since then Vectone has had its policy changed and is undergoing some major changes. Vectone MH1 has its EPG slot on channel 832 but is broadcasting none of its actual programming. So could it launch without the Vectone tag?

With the way things stand today, Vectone is broadcasting non-stop music videos on all of its seven channels and could be switching off its signal to make way for new channels for other broadcasters. This will then result in all seven Vectone channels disappearing and being replaced with new channels from broadcasters who wish to launch channels on Sky Digital. Sky is giving a time frame of up to eight months for a new channel to launch on Sky but with Vectone’s current status, it could use its current EPG spaces and launch a new channel within a week or two.

In a report in Business-Standard, MH1 plans to produce three to four Punjabi films in a year and at the same time launch a Punjabi music & entertainment channel in the UK, the US, and Canada, with an initial investment of Rs 15-20 crore by May.

The channel aims to explore the Punjabi niche market overseas. “We intend to take MH One to the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and the Far East. The channels in UK, the US and Canada will be launched by May. The investment will be Rs 15-20 crore,�۝ said Savita Jhingan, vice-president, marketing communications, MH1.

Keep it with Biz Asia for all the developments.