UTV plans two more kids channels

UTV Software Communications is all set to launch two kids channels. United Home Entertainment, a sister concern of UTV Software Communications, has filed an application with the information and broadcasting ministry for uplinking two channels.

Ronnie Screwvala, chief executive officer, UTV said, "We wish to retain our first mover advantage in the localised and Indian kids channels space. We have just applied for uplinking and the exact timeline will be announced at a later date."

According to Screwvala, the company will incur only a nominal cost for the new channels since the infrastructure for programming, marketing, sales and distribution is already established.

Hungama has a plan to break the kids universe into three segments of pre-school, 4-9 years old and 10-14 years old. This will form a three channel bouquet for Hungama in the long run. The channels will have the mix of acquired content in animation as well as locally produced live action programming and animation from India.

UTV already has one kid channel "" Hungama TV, a pay channel under the Star bouquet.

The new channels will also be pay channels, informed Screwvala. He said that Hungama is already earning revenue around Rs 75 lakh every month from advertising and is confident of the success of the additional channels.

According to industry estimates, India has the largest kid population in the world "" 3.3 crore. While UK accounts for just 1.1 crore while US has 6.1 crore. But if one sees the number of channels for kids, India is far behind at seven against UK's 20 kid's channels and 17 channels in the US for the pester power population.

The channels in this genre on offer in India are""Cartoon Network, Animax, Pogo, Nick, Hungama, Disney World and Toon Disney.