MUMBAI: If there was an element of speculation earlier it is now official. A watered down version of French fashion channel FTV will be what is on offer in the free-to-air basic tier post-CAS. FTV's "upper crust" sibling FashionX TV, meanwhile, will be available to pay subscribers at Rs 30.
The new FashionX TV will be more focused on fashion and lingerie shows, cabaret shows, performances, making of photographers and events such as the "Rio Carnival", according to a letter sent by Fashion TV promoter Michel Adam to the information of broadcasting ministry on Tuesday.
"The content of the channel will not be sexual and will comply to the sensibility of the Indian viewers and the censorship rules and regulations of India. This channel will absorb some of the eventually controversial part of the Fashion TV channel and will make FTV more acceptable as a free to air channel according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India," the letter says.
The Austria-registered channel has also distanced itself from former distribution partner Modi Entertainment Network by saying that 'no other third party is authorised to submit any documents, information relating to any governmental authorities in India using FTV's trademark, copyrights, content, etc...'. Interestingly, Adam has mentioned in the letter that further information related to FTV can be had from the channel itself or from the Delhi based National Cable and Telecom Assocation's (NCTA) president Vikki Choudhry.
Fashion TV broke away from MEN in April by starting a dual free to air feed on Asiasat 2 for the Asian region, while continuing to beam from the PAS 10 satellite as a pay channel. It also signed up a rival ad sales agreement with the Worldwide Channel, raising the hackles of MEN which has now sought legal recourse. FTV on the other hand claims the suit can only be handled by a UK court.
By announcing the pricing of the new pay channel, FTV has made clear where it would position itself in a conditional access scenario. While the FTA channel seems geared to just titillate, Fashion TV seems to made it clear that viewers interested in serious skin will have to cough up the dough.
FTV will continue to broadcast its unique format called "Fashion Clips", a short programme between two and 10 minutes concentrating on the best part of fashion shows, fashion parties and events with a unique musical background. For India, FTV is specially focusing on Indian designers, trend setters, models, heritage of Indian Fashion and arts, and the universe of "Bollywood".
