MUMBAI: The Raghav Bahl-promoted Television Eighteen Ltd is targeting 13 January as the launch date for the proposed 24-hour Hindi business channel it has christened Aawaz.

The launch would coincide with the fifth anniversary of parent channel CNBC-TV18. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will be gracing the anniversary function of TV 18.

The channel is planning to unleash a media campaign on CNBC TV18 in the next few days; the thrust of which would be 'Aawaz-the voice of the people'. The other promotional campaigns for the new channel will follow later.     

TV-18’s proposed Hindi channel will beam via an Insat satellite. Aawaz is slated to be a pay channel and priced at Rs 6/- on an a la carte basis and will be distributed by Zee-Turner. The maximum retail price of Aawaz has been marked at Rs 25, but an effective rate of Rs 6 will be charged from subscribers. The Zee-Turner comprehensive bouquet comprises 25 channels.

The overall head of Aawaz would be Sanjay Pugalia, while Vivek Law who would be designated as consumer editor. Ajay Chacko heads the marketing team. Ex Sahara Samay anchor Shireen would also be part of the proposed Hindi business news channel, according to a broadcast industry source.

Aawaz would not be just a translation of TV18's English channel CNBC-TV18, but will largely focus on servicing information on prices of agricultural products, besides communicating information on news on stocks and trade related components.

Aawaz would bring in expert views and foresights on consumer durables, and also provide information through the sectors of banks, insurance, travel and hospitality. Besides, it would also target in-depth analyses and perspectives on buying and selling transactions, trade related issues that concern the average Indian, insurance, banking; fixed deposits, mutual funds, housing loans, etc.

The channel aims at being a more 'touch and feel' channel, and will promote a greater level of interactivity through shows on commodities and stocks. The end aim being to to broadbase its viewership, with more interactions and discussions on all aspects.

As part of its content aggregation efforts, the company has recently acquired an agri informatics business portal www.eagritrader.com. The new channel will air news, information and prices of agricultural products on a worldwide basis.

Aawaz will join Zee Telefilms' Zee business in the business news niche channel category. As already reported by indiantelevision.com, NDTV's business news channel Profit is scheduled to go on air 10 January.