MUMBAI: Asian Television Network International (ATN), which serves Canada?s Asian community, has decided not to renew its licensing agreement for rights to Zee TV?2 Hindi programming when it expires on 31 January, 2013.

The licensing agreement would have automatically got renewed but ATN is not renewing it. The US affiliate of Zee was notified of the decision on 28 October, 2012.

ATN president, CEO Shan Chandrasekar said, "We felt that with programming content from both Star Plus and from Zee TV, we had a situation where we were unable to do justice to either one and from sheer lack of air time, had to miss out some very compelling programming contents".

Chandrasekar also observed that ATN?s positive relationship with Zee TV is still going to continue relating to the exclusive rights acquired by ATN in the programming content of ALPHA ETC PUNJABI channel.

ATN?s relationship with Star Plus continues and shall continue to grow going forward with more of Star Plus programming content aired on the ATN as well as with better exposure for shows such as ?Nach Baliye?, ?Veera?, ?Saathiya Saath Nibhaana?, ?Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai? and ?Pyar Ka Dard Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara?.

ATN also plans to introduce Canadian television premieres of Indian movies and engage in production and exhibition of Canadian feature films based on South Asian themes; and produce and feature South Asian Canadian dramas in Hindi, Punjabi, English and Tamil and also invest in Canadian independent production.

ATN is rolling out more channels and expanding and upgrading its operations.

MUMBAI: Canada?s largest South Asian broadcaster, Asian Television Network International (ATN), has launched celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor?s Food Food channel in Canada on Rogers Cable.

ATN has secured an exclusive programming alliance & licensing agreement with Turmeric Vision and has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights to the programming content of the Food Food Channel.

The content shall also include programming that is produced in Canada by ATN that portrays culinary art of the local talent.

Food Food channel is a joint-venture between Sanjeev Kapoor?s Turmeric Vision and Malaysia?s leading cross-media group Astro All Asia Networks.

"Canadian?s of South Asian Origin consume on an average of over four million meals per day or 120 million meals per month and needless to say, we are excited about launching North America?s first International Food Network," said ATN President, Chairman and CEO Dr. Shan Chandrasekar.

The ATN-Food Food channel will feature shows like Sanjeev Kapoor?s Kitchen, Firangi Tadka, Sirf 30 Minute and Ready Steady Cook to name a few. Prominent personalities from the entertainment and food industry such as Chef Chinu, Chef Harpal, and Chef Rakesh Sethi shall also be featured on the channel.