MUMBAI: Keralavision Channel Broadcast Limited (KCBL) is all set to launch a new Malayalam satellite general entertainment channel Kerala Vision Digital. Testing began on 1 November 2017 while the commercial launch of the same is planned by end of March 2018 for the free-to-air (FTA) channel.
Praveen Mohan is the chairman of KCBL and Raj mohan Mambra is the managing director(MD).
Talking to Indiantelevision.com, Kerala Communicators Cable Limited (KCCL) CEO Shaaji Mathews said, " The normal composition of this regional channel will include current affair bulletins also apart from movies, serials events, game shows and such gec content. The serials and family drama will be totally different from the current trend of glamorous hind content being dubbed into regional languages. We will emphasise on traditions, culture, family values and original talent. Further Our current affairs will be very local and relevant to the state . The channel will also cover the local Kerala events."
"We have tied up with some of the operators in other states to reach the Malayalam audience. There is a large number of people with roots in kerala and residing in other states and metros", said Mathews.
KCBL and KCCL are the two public limited companies incorporated and formed under the initiative Cable Operators Association (COA).
COA was formed because Cable TV networks emerged in various parts of Kerala in the early 1990s as ventures of self-employment by the youth. As the cable TV industry was entering a high-growth stage nationally and networks with massive capital investment appeared on the scene, FTA channels began turning into pay channels.
This phenomenon posed a stiff threat to the small local neighbourhood networks. It was in such a scenario that a fellowship of cable operators calling itself the Cable Operators’ Association was born. It has been functioning with remarkable foresight in the consolidating the base of small networks and helping them pool valuable resources.
Intelsat 17 satellite is being used for the testing of the channel.
