World Cup soccer telecaster Ten Sports announced late tonight (30 May) that its parent Taj Television and distribution partner HMA Udyog had struck a deal with the Sun Network-promoted and Tamil Nadu major Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) under which the channel would get distribution on the latter‘s cable TV network.
Yesterday, Taj Television CEO Chris McDonald had announced deals with RPG Netcom in Kolkata, Asianet in Kerala and Hathway in Bangalore and Chennai, taking Ten Sports penetration up to 18 million homes. Today‘s SCV tieup, means that the channel‘s penetration is likely to be closer to the 19-20 million homes range with other smaller deals with CATV networks all over India also being struck, a company spokesperson added.

McDonald also announced that the sportscaster had not been successful in forging agreements with the large MSOs in Mumbai - InCable and Hathway. "Most of Mumbai will sadly be deprived of the World Cup Soccer telecast," said McDonald.

Among the CATV networks in Mumbai which will relaying Ten Sports at the first kickoff of the FIFA tourney tomorrow figure Seven Star and Bhawani Hathway.

"We are asking for an effective rate of Re 1 per sub from the MSOs," disclosed McDonald.

Apparently, that‘s a tab that has proven too stiff for the MSOs to bear. Watch this space for developments.

The Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms Ltd today got the formal nod from shareholders to raise the FII limit in India‘s leading media company to 49 per cent at an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) held in Mumbai today.
In a communique to the BSE, Zee Telefilms said the approval from shareholders was "unanimous." Currently, the FII limit stands at 30 per cent of the issued and paid up capital of the company.

Star India today announced the appointment of Zee News executive editor Sanjay Pugalia as news director Star News. His appointment will be effective 1 July and he will report directly to Star News president Ravina Raj Kohli.

This the first major appointment that Kohli has made since taking charge of the Star News venture and would appear to indicate a clear focus on Hindi in the new scheme of things so as to directly take on Aaj Tak and Zee News. The speculation on what the content mix would be like languagewise has been on ever since Star announced it would be taking over the running of the channel when the present deal with Prannoy Roy‘s NDTV ends in March 2003.

Asked whether Pugalia‘s appointment was the clearest indicator yet of Star News shift towards Hindi, Kohli said Pugalia had been taken on not just for his background in Hindi but for his overall aptitude as far as television journalism was concerned. Queried as to whether a decision had been taken as far as the language mix was concerned, Kohli said: "I haven‘t crystallised my plans on that yet."

According to a senior executive of Zee Telefilms: "We were aware Pugalia was leaving as he had put in his papers some time back. Now we will have to rethink our strategy and look for new people and the search is on."

In accepting the appointment Pugalia was officially quoted as saying: "It‘s a great challenge to be part of a team that readies itself to establish a new news channel in a competitive environment. I feel privileged."

Pugalia was earlier with Aaj Tak when it was a one-hour news slot on national broadcaster Doordarshan before moving to Zee News as executive editor. He has over 20 years experience in print, television and radio journalism. Pugalia has covered and written on a range of topics covering politics, and business.