KOLKATA: Channel Eight, which re-launched its Bengali general entertainment channel (GEC) Akash Bangla as Aakash Aath last year, has now made two key appointments. While Vamshi Pendyala has been roped in as zonal head – west, Debasish Chattopadhyay is the new zonal head - east.

Pendyala is a media and advertising professional with a rich experience of maximising advertising revenues across genres. Prior to joining Aakash Aath, he worked in Hummra M (CNEB Network) as head, advertising sales – west and south and Narne Networks as national head – advertising.

On the other hand, Chattopadhyay has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, concept selling and advertising sales. Prior to joining the channel, he worked at ETV Network as senior manager and national sales head of ETV Bangla and was involved in strategising, sales and operations.

“Aakash Aath is focusing on maximising the market share in the GEC space. Keeping this in mind we have appointed Vamshi Pendyala and Debasish Chattopadhyay. With their vast experiences, they would help us in achieving our growth target. They would be responsible for stratetigising, developing new areas of business and increasing the advertising revenues for the channel,” said Aakash Aath director Eshita Surana.

Positioned as a GEC, Aakash Aath presents a wide variety of programme including news bulletins (Aakash Barta), catering to audiences across age group.

The programmes on air are Janani (fiction), Good Morning Akash (live musical programme with guest artistes), FM On TV (music programme), Radhuni (cookery contest based show), Shahityer Shera Somoy (screen adaptations of literary classics), Police Filez (crime show based on real life incidents), Hing Ting Chhot (children’s programme), Gaan Doriya (music show) and Ghhente Gha (comedy show).

The channel also airs blockbuster movies and telefilms. “The channel aims to launch an array of interesting shows in the coming days,” Surana concluded.