HBO & Eros form alliance for two new channels in India

HBO and Eros International have teamed up together to launch two new pay channels in India.

The services will be known as HBO Defined and HBO Hits. The channels will include dubbed programmed in regional languages.

The ad-free channels will have a mix of both Hollywood and Bollywood content, they will also look to develop HBO’s existing formats for India and create original content, both for the Indian television market and international distribution.

Speaking to afaqs!, Jonathan Spink, CEO, HBO Asia, says, “The channels are specially tailored for the Indian viewers. We feel that the time is right for giving viewers the choice of advertising-free service. There is a section of people who will pay for watching a multiplex movie environment at home: the best of movies, with no interruptions, and we want to tap into them.”

The channels will be launched in early 2013. To begin with, they will be carried only on digital TV platforms. “We are in talks with multiple DTH operators and will announce our launch plans soon,” he adds.