ATN to launch 5 Channels in collaboration with India's largest Broadcaster-DOORDARSHAN in Canada

ATN to launch 5 Channels in collaboration with India's largest Broadcaster-DOORDARSHAN in Canada


TORONTO, May 1, 2013 /CNW/ - Asian Television Network International
Limited (ATN) (TSX-SAT), Canada's largest South Asian Broadcaster, is
pleased to announce the launch of 5 Canadian channels in collaboration
with India's largest Terrestrial Broadcaster Doordarshan, popularly known as DD.


Doordarshan is India's most Powerful Broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati and
is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the World in terms
of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters and is a
Multi-Billion Dollar organization.



ATN has signed Licensing Agreements with DD under which it has been
granted exclusive rights to the five television services, namely DD India, DD News, DD Bharati, DD Urdu and DD Sports.


ATN-DD India: DD India is an Indian satellite television channel which is marketed
towards Indian audiences living abroad, and offers an update on the
social, cultural, and political aspects of India. The channel features
original programming, such as dramas, comedy-series, talk shows,
documentaries, and re-runs of popular TV shows from other Indian
television channels. The programming on this channel continues to be
done in a manner to enable it to meet its primary objective of
providing a window to the world especially for the Indian diaspora to
witness the Indian social, cultural, political and economic scene. 


ATN-DD News: The DD-News channel is India's only 24 hours terrestrial news channel
which telecasts over 16 hours of live news bulletins daily
in Hindi and English. News Headlines, News updates, breaking news on
the scroller are regular features on this channel. DD News also carries
Stock and Commodities indices throughout the day in an automated
delivery mode, accessing information from NSE & BSE and leading
commodity exchanges like NCDEX, MCX, etc.


ATN-DD Bharati: acts as a Cultural Heritage of India. Besides programmes on adventure,
quiz contests, fine arts/paintings, crafts and designs, cartoons,
talent hunts, etc., it also telecasts MERI BAAT an hour-long phone-in 'live' show with young people. Programmes
emphasizing on a healthy life style and focusing on prevention rather
than cure, both in our traditional and modern forms of medicine are the
highlight of the channel.


ATN-DD Urdu: is a general interest Urdu channel encapsulating heritage, culture,
literature, information, education & societal issues specific to the
Urdu speaking audience.


ATN-DD Sports: DD Sports is India's only free-to-air sports channel and provides
coverage to various international and domestic sports including
Cricket, Football, Hockey, Tennis, Archery, Athletics, Kabaddi,
Swimming, Badminton, Wrestling, Kho-kho and other indigenous games. The
channel also covers events organized by different Sports Federations
and Association in India. 



"India is the World's largest democracy and has a population of over a
Billion People. We are delighted to be associated with the launch of
India's Official National Broadcaster Doordarshan which is similar to
the BBC in the UK and CBC in Canada" said Dr. Shan Chandrasekar
President and CEO of ATN, "We have aggressive plans to add substantial
value to our Diaspora and enhance our strong Customer base on Cable,
Satellite and Credible distributors across Canada" he added.



"I am delighted that Asian Television Network (ATN), Canada is going to
launch five channels of Doordarshan, the national television service of
India, in Canada.  This is yet another significant step taken by ATN to
connect the vibrant Indian diaspora in Canada with news, culture and
sports from their motherland, India. It fulfills a long felt need and
demand among Indo-Canadians to view Doordarshan's programmes" said
Honorable Mrs. Preeti Saran, Consul-General of India in Toronto. "This
important development would not have been possible without the pioneer
leadership of its President & CEO Dr. Shan Chandrasekar, a truly global
Indo-Canadian, who has been an important bridge builder between India
and Canada" she added.



Doordarshan enjoys the widest reach with 48 million TV Households and
also enjoys 62% penetration in A, B & C category Cable & Satellite
homes in India.



"In Canada, Indians form one of the most respected and professionally
accomplished communities who have kept their cultural roots intact
while adapting to Canada and we have been striving to connect with the
international audience rapidly. It gives me immense pleasure to
announce our relationship with ATN for meeting this objective by
distributing five of our main channels in Canada" said Shri Tripurari
Sharan, Director General, Doordarshan. "Both ATN and DD have walked the
extra mile in making this happen and I hope that this effort will help
strengthen the feeling of togetherness through Doordarshan channels
which are rich in cultural values, art, music, dance, entertainment and
depict the crucible of culture, India has been for millennia" he added.



In addition to the existing subscriber base, with the launch of these
new channels, ATN expects to gain new subscribers through Cable,
Satellite & IPTV platforms across Canada. It is ATN's intention to have
its compelling content distributed to all authenticated subscribers
through VOD, SVOD, Tablets and mobile platforms across Canada.



About ATN - Asian Television Network International Limited:



ATN serves Canada's diverse cultural communities with 44 specialty
television channels. The Company offers its flagship ATN-HD general
interest service, 4 Bollywood movie channels and a variety of channels
that include 3 sports Channels, 3 news Channels, 3 music Channels, 3
lifestyle Channels, 3 Chinese Channels, 6 Punjabi channels, and several
regional language channels. ATN operates a South Asian Radio Service on
Satellite Radio across The United States and Canada. Some ATN content
is also available on any Bell mobile phone that supports video. ATN has
programming alliances with leading international broadcasters like Star
Network (News Corp), Sony Entertainment Television, Viacom, Times
Television Network, B4U Network, NDTV and many more. ATN channels are
available on various Cable, Satellite and IPTV Platforms across Canada
like Shaw Cable, Bell TV, Rogers Cable, Bell Fibe TV, TELUS Optic TV,
Cogeco Cable, and Others.



We rely on safe harbour provision.


SOURCE Asian Television Network International Limited

Asian Television Network International Limited

CONTACT: Please visit www.asiantelevision.com or contact... Pramod Israni
Vice President - Marketing
Asian Television Network International Limited
330 Cochrane Drive
Markham, Ontario L3R 8E4
Canada Tel: 905-948-8199
Email: pramod@asiantelevision.com


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