NDTV channels move to Star Den

NDTV channels move to Star Den

MUMBAI: NDTV is consolidating the distribution of all its channels under one umbrella. Moving its news channels out of MSM Discovery (TheOneAlliance), it has inked a new distribution pact with Star Den, the joint venture company between Star India and Den.

As per the agreement, Star Den will distribute NDTV 24x7 (English news channel), NDTV Profit (business news channel), NDTV India (Hindi news channel) and NDTV Good Times (lifestyle channel).
 
Earlier, the distribution of the lifstyle channel, NDTV Good Times, was being handled internally by NDTV.

Star Den CEO Gurjeev Singh Kapoor said, “It is great news for all of us as our partnership marks the coming together of two powerhouses. The viewers shall be enthralled to get better quality programming. We welcome NDTV as a part of our family and are sure that this association shall achieve many milestones.”

NDTV will continue to keep the digital distribution, including DTH, of its channels with itself. “We are delighted to partner with Star Den, to further strengthen the reach and relevance of NDTV. Our agreement further consolidates the leadership position of NDTV 24X7, NDTV Profit, NDTV India and NDTV Good Times across multiple platforms in the country and provides viewers with increased access to content anywhere and anytime,” said NDTV Group CEO and executive director KVL Narayan Rao. 
 
For Den founder-promoter Sameer Manchanda, this is a victory of sorts. Star Den had earlier lost all the channels of Network18, including CNBC-TV18 (business news channel), CNN-IBN (English news channel) and IBN7 (Hindi news channel). Manchanda had later relinquished his post as IBN18 joint managing director, while IBN18 promoter Raghav Bahl resigned from the board of directors of Den Networks.

The news channels are now aligned under each major distribution platform. The newly formed Sun18 has the Network18 channels while TheOneAlliance has TV Today channels (including Aaj Tak and headlines Today). Zee Turner has the Zee news channels and CNN.