DM Digital to beam channels from Pakistan

DM Digital is launching 3-4 channels from Pakistan within the next six months. They will all be beamed into UK and Europe via the Eurobird 9 satellite (Hotbird).

DM News will be launched on 14th August from on Paksat, Thaicom, Eurobird 9 (UK & Europe) and Satellite Galaxy (USA and Canada). This channel will be a global service under one beam, broadcasting round the clock, free-to-air.

A statement from the channel says, “Viewers will be able to watch international and regional news from London, Manchester, Glasgow, Lahore, Islamabad and many other international continents. DM Digital Network has already purchased 4 DSNG vans for Pakistan to bring the viewers minute by minute updates live. The DM Digital Network has recruited 500 employees in Pakistan for the launch of the new channels. There will also be two additional vans covering UK with two new studios in London and Glasgow, which will broadcast live news, current affairs and interactive discussion shows.”

Also launching on 14th August will be one of the first all Asian children’s channel – DM Kids. The network claims that this will be the first channel of this kind, in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and English that provides educational and general entertainment for children.

Another news channel from the DM stable is DM English News, which is eyeing a November launch. Teleshopping channel DM Apna Bazaar, which had a short stint in the UK until it faced closure will be launching in Pakistan in November.

UK and European viewers wanting to watch the new channels will need to purchase an additional receiver, costing around �30. DM Digital’s Chairman Dr Malik explained to BizAsia.co.uk the reason behind the switch from Sky Digital to Eurobird 9 for the signal, “The main reason for removing this from the Sky platform is that DM Digital wishes to remain as a free channel for the ethnic community. British Asian channels are not mainstream channels, their sources of income are limited. The Sky platform is very costly therefore I take the view that UK and European viewers will be able to watch this for a onetime cost of �30 for a receiver. A recent survey carried out, most Asian households already have additional receivers where they are able to receive Hotbird / Eurobird 9.”

DM Digital’s flagship channel on Sky Digital will continue broadcasting as it is from Manchester.