Sony TV to launch Bengali channel this year

Sony Entertainment Television Asia will be launching its Bengali movie channel, Sony Aath in the UK as a part of VIEWASIA, later this year.

Sony Aath was previously known as Channel 8 Talkies before it was acquired by Multi Screen Media (owners of Sony TV) in 2008.

Sony Aath is a popular Bengali movie channel specialising in latest and classic Bengali movie titles, telefilms and movie-related magazine shows.

Sony Aath is already available in international markets like the USA and Canada and soon will be arriving in the UK and Australia.

The channel will be launched as a part of VIEWASIA, Multi Screen Media’s UK distribution bundle, which already includes Sony TV, MAX, SAB TV, Colors, Aaj Tak, ARY Digital, Sahara One and B4U Movies. Sony Aath will be the bouquet’s ninth channel.

Sony Aath will no doubt face stiff competition from ZEE Cafe, which launched last year as a hybrid channel consisting of Bengali, Marathi and cricket programming. There are also a handful of other independent Bengali channels on the Sky Digital platform.

Specific details such as launch timeframe for Sony Aath and whether or not the price of VIEWASIA will change with the addition of this channel are yet to be confirmed.