In an effort to diversify and expand its business activities, Xenitis Group of Companies is all set to launch a Bengali television channel. Audience can view Kolkata TV, the new channel, from March 27, 2006. Xenitis is the manufacturer of the Amar, Apna and Aamchi PC brands.

The 24x7 global Bengali infotainment channel will offer real-time update from the world of politics, business, art and culture, education, sports and entertainment. Xenitis has formed a separate company called SST Media, with Suman Chattopadhyay as the Editor and Director and Aparna Sen as the Creative Head of Kolkata TV.

Tathagata Dutta, MD, Xenitis, Santanu Ghosh, Chairman, Xenitis Group of Companies, Aparna Sen, Creative Head, Kolkata TV and Suman Chattopadhyay, Editor & Director, Kolkata TV at launch of the Kolkata TV in Taj Bengal.

Santanu Ghosh, Chairman, Xenitis Group of Companies said, "Xenitis is constantly evolving. Now the time has arrived for us to establish ourselves as a premium media house."

Chattopadhyay stated, "Kolkata TV will be a news and current affair base channel. Our benchmarks are NDTV, Aaj Tak, etc. We want to present the kind of programs they provide in English and Hindi with a bit more improvisation in Bengali."

According to Ghosh, news and information-based channels have about 45% year-on-year growth worldwide. In recent times, growth has been associated with regional channels, which is expected to increase. "There's a big market still untapped. Therefore, we are looking forward to tap those and create a new audience for us," said Ghosh.

In the first phase, SST Media has invested around Rs 50 crore on Kolkata TV to cover the entire West Bengal, Delhi and Mumbai circles. It later plans to cover the adjacent states of Bangladesh and southern India in its second phase. The projected investment for the second phase is expected to cross Rs 100 crore.

DQC News bureau

Page(s)   1