MUMBAI: After attaining and retaining the number one spot in the genre for the past two weeks, Marathi news channel Mi Marathi is now looking at strengthening its digital presence.

The channel has roped in former ABP Majha anchor Nilesh Khare, famous for his show Bigg Boss and given him the mandate for the same. In his new role as Mi Marathi editor - digital, Khare will be working with a new team to get the channel’s digital plan rolling.

Khare, who joined the channel last week, will not just be heading the digital team but will also be hosting a show Marathi Bigg Boss on the channel.

“We have a news channel and a newspaper, but now we want to strengthen our digital presence. We have recently launched an app but we will not be taking a regular digital route,” Mi Marathi editor in chief Ravindra Ambekar tells Indiantelevision.com.

The plan, currently in its nascent stage, is to make the digital platform interactive. “We have done a lot of research and found out that one sided communication is not really helpful. While people have switched on notifications to keep themselves updated with news, this has now reached stagnation point. Hence we are looking at making our platform more interactive, where people can voice their opinions,” adds Ambekar.

Mi Marathi will have a separate digital team, headed by Khare. “We should be launching the digital platform in the next six months,” informs Khare.

Talking about his decision to join Mi Marathi, Khare says that it was the young and enthusiastic team that attracted him to associate with the channel.

Mi Marathi will soon start shooting for Marathi Bigg Boss with Khare. “It was a popular show, which he worked on during his stint with ABP Majha. We will be bringing that on our channel now,” informs Ambekar.

Mi Marathi plans to take the show international and plans are afoot to shoot the first episode in Dubai. The programme will feature Maharashtrian entrepreneurs across the globe. “This will be a yearlong show. While currently it is at conceptualization level, we have already shortlisted around 13 entrepreneurs and industrialists in Dubai and so we will start shooting there next month. Post that we will go to the US as well,” informs Ambekar.