MUMBAI: On 30 March, Associated Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd (ABCPL) launched its Hindi news channel—TV9 Bharatvarsh, with the aim to "change the national television with its unique style of aggressive presentation blended with investigative journalism that will focus on the rights of the people".
It entered the Hindi news genre with a well-known team of strong journalists and presenters. The editorial team includes names like former India TV editor Hemant Sharma, former India TV managing editor Ajit Anjum, and Vinod Kapri. The Hindi channel opened up its news studio in the country, which will use AR, VR technologies and BOT News Tracker in its presentation.
On 31 March, the channel had organised a national conference in which PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Akhilesh Yadav, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Kapil Sibal were present apart from other top leaders.
ABCPL director Clifford Pereira had said in a statement, “The Hindi channel will bring back issues that really matter and use the medium of television keeping the core values of humanity and people’s interests in the forefront. Unlike other Hindi news channels, TV9 Bharatvarsh will not promote superstitions like astrology.”
The company’s revenue grew 19 per cent to Rs 159.96 crore in 9M FY18 compared to Rs 134.73 crore in 9M FY17. It operates six channels (different languages) which are broadcast in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The company broadcasts the channel with the brand name of TV9, News9 and TV1.