A leading news publishing house in the US led by an Indian-American has acquired a New York-based 247 national cable TV channel with plans to launch it in India soon.
Parikh Worldwide Media, founded by renowned community leader, allergist and Padma Sudhir Parikh, acquired ITV Gold (International Television Broadcasting), the longest running channel in the US catering to the Indian and South Asian diaspora.
According to a report in NewsIndia Times, ITV Gold is the first-ever 247 cable TV channel in the US to deliver news about India, Indian-Americans and South Asians, since it was launched in 1985.
Parikh said he is also keen to launch ITV Gold in India soon. We will have tie-ups with digital platforms in India, to launch ITV Gold, before we penetrate the cable markets there, with informative news shows and programs that will give insight into the Indian diaspora and their issues in the US, Parikh added.
On the acquisition, Parikh said in the report that "ITV Gold has solid brand value and a massive following in the Indian-American, South Asian, and Indo-Caribbean market and we plan to give more community news and local events coverage with the combination of print and television connecting viewers to matters that affect them here in the U.S. and in India."
ITV Gold brings 247 local and national entertainment and news content to Indian and South Asian diaspora households in the US, with select entertainment and news programs from India as well.
We want to connect the community in the US to India's culture and heritage. ITV Gold is already available on cable through Time Warner, Cablevision and RCN. We will strive to take this forward to the next level platform, including digital and satellite, to reach out to even more viewers, Parikh added.
"Future plans include to increase healthcare and political round table programs, shows on the second generation Indian-origin and South Asian-origin diaspora, and to increase community and diaspora coverage to have daily community roundup programs," he added.
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