MUMBAI: Zee News Ltd ? which is to be renamed as Zee Media Corp ? is exploring whether it makes sense to merge the Essel group?s print media interests (DNA) with its news broadcasting business. Today, the company filed a notice with the Mumbai stock exchange wherein it has said it has got board approval to fuse its news broadcasting business and its print media interests.

DNA has six editions and according to the IRS Q4-2012 it had an average India readership of close to a million daily. In Mumbai it has been giving other players such as The Times of India and The Hindustan Times a run for their money. Zee News on the other hand is among the top 3 news broadcasters in the country with news and infotainment channels in Hindi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, UP/Uttarakhand, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, and a business channel in Hindi.

Said Zee News in the statement to the BSE: ?Considering the growth plans of the company and the business synergies in print and electronic news media, the board has approved in-principle combination of ?news publication business? of Diligent Media Corp Ltd - a promoter group entity engaged in printing and publication of English daily ?DNA? and the ?news broadcasting business? of the Company. A committee constituted by the board shall engage / appoint independent professionals to advice on the appropriate structure / manner of combination and its valuation, cost-benefit analysis, procedural and others aspects for consideration by the audit committee and the board in due course.?

When indiantelevision.com contacted Zee News CEO Alok Agrawal, he said even though everything was in a preliminary stage there was an active possibility of a merger fructifying.

MUMBAI: Canada?s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium has announced its commitment to delivering Canadians the best Summer Games experience ever. The Consortium is bringing viewers more than 5,500 hours of coverage - the equivalent of more than 229 days of content or close to two thirds of a year - during the 17 days of London Olympic 2012, more than any other Games.

The Consortium?s plan includes 2,000+ hours of television coverage in 11 different languages and 3,500+ hours of digital coverage.

Additionally, the Consortium has confirmed the schedules for its conventional and dedicated sport channels which range between 15 - 22 hours of coverage per day. This plan ensures Canadians have as many options as possible to watch their favourite events.

Television: In total, more than 2,000 hours will be broadcast on Consortium television stations:

- English coverage on CTV, TSN, Sportsnet, and OLN - 1,114 hours

- French coverage on RDS and V - 704 hours

- Multi-lingual coverage on OMNI.1, OMNI.2, and ATN - 223 hours

- Languages include Bangla, Cantonese, Hindi, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tamil, and Urdu

Digital: More than 3,500 hours of coverage will be available online and on mobile devices at CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca:

- Live streaming of coverage from CTV, RDS, TSN, Sportsnet, and V - 1,431 hours

- Live streaming of events from various Olympic venues - 2,100 hours

Canada?s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium president Adam Ashton said, "We are committed to bringing Canadians a robust Olympic Games experience, whether on television or digital platforms. With 26 sports, plus a sizeable time difference and so many people on the go during the Summer, it is important to provide Canadians with a choice on how, when, and where they want to consume London 2012 content."

In addition, 10 Rogers Radio stations will provide listeners with Olympic Games coverage, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, a daily hour-long highlights show, and updates three times an hour everyday during the Games.