SAB TV to replace Sahara Filmy next month?

After our exclusive news break last week about SAB TV’s immediate UK launch plans, we can now reveal that Sahara’s movies channel Filmy could be phased out to be replaced by Sony TV Network’s light-entertainment offering.

According to industry speculation, the MAX Mix bundle, which currently consists of MAX, ARY Digital, Sahara One, Aaj Tak and FILMY will be bolstered with the addition of SAB TV as an alternative offering.

Out of the two movie channels in the package, MAX has the bigger movie titles, which has helped the network, build its audience. FILMY on the other hand has not been able to match the success it has achieved in India here due to film rights issues so was dependent on a high repeat pattern of movies.

Some of FILMY’s gameshows and reality programmes will be shifted to sister channel Sahara One.

Sony TV network has little option to purchase an EPG slot due to Sky Digital clamping down on new channels launching on its platform. It is hoping SAB TV will beef up its new line-up of channels with MAX providing the big Bollywood movie titles, ARY Digital – in class infotainment from Pakistan, Sahara One ��� general Hindi entertainment, Aaj Tak – leading news coverage from India and SAB TV – light entertainment with dollops of comedy elements.

The changes are expected to take place as soon as next week. FILMY currently broadcasts on Sky EPG 819. Both Sahara One and FILMY launched last June after it struck a deal with Globosat Entertainment to distribute the channels in the UK.

At the time of filing this article, a spokesman from Sony TV Network UK was unavailable to validate this report.

Keep it with BizAsia.co.uk for more exclusive news breaks.