MUMBAI: IndiaVision, which claims to be the first exclusive television news channel in Kerala, is to simultaneously launch today from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and the United Arab Emirates.
Indiavision is promoted by Indiavision Satellite Communications Ltd, a public limited company, and vows to uphold secular and democratic values in its mission statement.
In a bid to cater to the English speaking Malayalee, the channel plans to have 30 per cent of its programmes in English.
Indiavision claims it will have a technological edge over the other regional channels because, apart from Kerala and the whole of India, Indiavision will be beamed throughout the Middle East. The channel can also be viewed in Europe, and the USA, where Indian language broadcasts are so far largely non existent. By this, Indiavision will reach a sizeable Keralite NRI population of the 15 million and odd overseas Indians. Special "Gulf Focus" bulletins and programs targeted at the sizeable Keralite population there are also planned.
The entire chain of operations - news gathering, studio production, post production, uplinking and downlinking of signals - will be configured on a digital platform, a company statement says. The channel will also have fully equipped Mini-OB vans deployed throughout Kerala, so that the 'live' element is predominant, the statement adds.
Dr MK Muneer, the minister for public works in the present cabinet of Kerala state, is the company chairman. MT Vasudevan Nair, eminent filmmaker, writer and journalist, heads programming, TK Vibhaker, formerly vice-president of Asianet, is the COO, while Nikesh Kumar is the executive editor.
At present, Kerala has four television channels -- Asianet, Surya, Kairali and Jeevan.