MUMBAI: ATN International is poised to launch its new channel Ahimsaa on 2 October, 2003. This was conveyed to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in official announcement by the company today.
The announcement stated that ATN's board of directors (BOD) reviewed the preparations of the launch in a meeting today.
Presently, the application for uplinking Ahimsaa from India is pending for approval with the information and broadcasting ministry, according to the announcement.
The 24-hour predominantly Hindi global satellite television channel was originally reported to kick-off on 30 January, it's content comprising social, environmental and women empowerment issues. Its official announcement was made at the 'Converging World 2002' held in Bangalore between 3 and 5 December, 2002.
Later on, indiantelevision.com had reported that Ahimsaa will commence from 15 August 2003. ATN had stated to NSE that the channel will be uplinked from India on a global platform tentatively from 15 August and would cover more than 50 countries of the world. However, the company is still waiting for I&B's consent.
Ahimsaa is promoted by Kolkata-based Santosh Kumar Jain, who besides being a partner in Aastha Television and CMM Music has also launched ATN World and ATN Bangla in West Bengal. It is being backed by The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, headquartered in Mount Abu, India.
The channel will telecast talks on Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and other religions. For women, there would be special shows like the gourmet special Aah Kya Swad , Ghar Beethe on self-employment opportunities and Haq on legal issues.