MUMBAI: Giving competition to Discovery Channel, Prashant Chothani-promoted travel and lifestyle channel, travelxp, is all set to take southern India by storm with the launch of its new channel in Tamil. The channel's soft launch is scheduled for 13 December. It's availability on various distribution platforms will be unveiled post its launch.
The aim of the channel is to connect with the regional audience and broaden the audience base that travelxp already enjoys.
"We are launching a new channel focussed on the Tamil audience across all age-groups. South India has vast tourist spots which are famous both, nationally and internationally, with some places that are yet to be explored. Our channel will highlight everything -- from food to travel to leisure, etc. and will showcase it to the world. "
The channel will have original localised Tamil content as well as dubbed shows from travelxp's existing bouquet. In a year's time, the channel plans to have a 60:40 ratio of acquired/dubbed as to homegrown content in Tamil language.
After launching a Bengali version in April this year, travelxp’s Tamil will also explore and travel to new places, finding new cultures and destinations, knowing about different food tastes. The channel's team would shoot different episodes with various families in their own drawing room.
The Bengali feed has a line-up of marquee shows such as Bliss, World Spa, Backpack, Great World Hotels, Strictly Street, xp guide, and Food Fact Fun, etc.
The much awaited 4K rollout of travelxp meantime is also set to launch before it's speculated time in February 2017. The launch will happen across all the markets.
Chothani has invested around US$ 2 million in producing his shows in 4K over the past year or so. Using 4K technology, the shows have already produced 100 hours of travel content in UHD and need another 50 hours of content to launch a full-fledged 4K channel.
The channel has expanded its international footprint by launching in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Rwanda by tying up with Africa’s AzamTV network. The channel is already available in North America, Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
Travelxp is currently available on DTH platforms -- Tata Sky, Dish TV, Videocon d2h and Airtel, and leading cable networks like Hathway Cable & Datacom, InCable, Siti Cable, GTPL and UCN.
