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Rishtey Cineplex to launch in UK within days?

Rishtey Cineplex
Rishtey Cineplex

Viacom18’s new Hindi movies channel, Rishtey Cineplex could be launching in the UK quite imminently.

According to BizAsiaLive.com sources, Rishtey Cineplex has been speeding its UK launch to bolster the broadcaster’s current bouquet of channels that include Colors, Rishtey and News18. Rishtey Cineplex is expected to give the network a huge boost with the amount of blockbuster film titles it has acquired this year.

Recently films like ‘Airlift’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani’, which premiered on sister service, Colors proved huge successes on the channel. Regular movie premieres backed with a library of classic titles could give Rishtey Cineplex a lead over its rivals. Rishtey Cineplex will fight directly with market leader UMP Movies, which dominates the Bollywood movie space in UK ratings, followed by Star Gold. Other Hindi film channels including B4U Movies, Sony Max and ZEE Cinema do not subscribe to BARB.

Furthermore, BizAsiaLive.com understands that Rishtey Cineplex will replace an existing channel to allocate its EPG slot. Industry speculation is rife that IndiaCast’s underperforming News18 channel will exit the UK market, to make way for Rishtey Cineplex. If true, pressure will ease off IndiaCast as News18 has struggled in UK ratings since it launched. The channel’s weekly reach has at times remained below 50,000 viewers. Incidentally, it will be News18’s third year in the UK on 1st July – if it remains on-air until then!

BizAsiaLive.com is awaiting an official announcement from Viacom18 – keep it with us for more.