MUMBAI: Essel Group will announce the launch of its 24-hour interactive and gaming channel PlayTV on 19 May in Mumbai.

Promotional and distribution campaigns will follow the announcement. Essel will be showcasing an extensive presentation on how gaming is merged with television's interactivity at the launch.
 

The channel, which was soft-launched on 1 April, has become a fully functioning channel since 18 April.

Along with music programmes, PlayTV provides gaming news, contests, bidding and shopping. The channel runs on real time basis through SMS, emails and chats.
 
 

PlayTV was simultaneously launched on cable and Essel Group's DTH offering Dish TV. The free-to-air channel is available across the country on Siti Cable. Efforts to get the channel in other networks are currently on.