New channel on the block

New channel on the block

There have been two more additions to the ever-growing brood of television channels. CMM studios launched CMM, a 24-hour music channel and Aastha, a devotional and cultural line, on June 18. Currently a free-to-air channel, CMM has Hindi pop, Punjabi pop and Hindi film music. "It's a regular music channel and currently has 10 programmes. We will soon be introducing English music too," says Dhirendra Jain, PRO.

Aastha has limited air time. From 6.00 am to 9.00 am and 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm the channel has discourses, devotional songs and cultural programmes. "Soon, we will make it a 24-hour channel with mythological information on festivals, reasons for their celebration, Indian culture et al," says Jain.

Though at present they have no advertisements, Jain hopes that they will soon start trickling in. "We are already getting enquiries and in a few months we should be on par with the other channels." Productions are in-house now but won't be so for long. "Our surveys reveal that the channels are picking up viewership and we are sure we will be popular before long."