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NDTV turns Arabian

DUBAI — India-based television news channel New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) yesterday launched NDTV Arabia in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The channel, which produces news, current affairs, business and entertainment programmes, will have a bureau in Dubai Media City.

The 24-hour free-to-air infotainment channel will have live reports on South Asian developments and businesses and also local content in English and Hindi.

While the telecast of local content will start towards the end of November, the rest of the package is already on air from yesterday.

It will be the region’s first local and predominantly English infotainment channel aimed at the International Asian expatriates.

Announcing the launch, Dr Prannoy Roy, chairman of NDTV Ltd, said: “This is the first step in our commitment to the region. We have always wanted to do something in Dubai because of the large South Asian population here. We will, however, go beyond the Asian news.”

Asked whether the channel would replicate here the exposes and sting operations it had carried out in India, Dr Roy said: “We will do whatever is necessary and will be true to ourselves. We will push the boundaries. Just watch out for this space.”

This would be done “within the laws of the land”, he was quick to add.

The channel’s local content will have its popular shows, including The Big Fight, Night Out and Walk the Talk. Night Out would cover discotheques in the region, including the UAE.

This launch, according to NDTV, is part of its plans to create a global brand. The 19-year-old television news channel forayed into the Indonesian and Malaysian markets recently.

The channel is available on Nile Sat and is estimated to reach between 70 million and 100 million homes in the region.

NDTV Arabia is also planning local channels in Arabic later.