MUMBAI: Times Television Network has finalised the distribution deal with Asian Television Network International (ATN), one of the largest South Asian broadcasters in Canada.
The deal paves way for the three channels of Times TV Network – Times Now (English news channel), ET Now (English business news channel) and Zoom (Bollywood entertainment channel) – to enter the Canadian market, which has a large base of Indian and Asian community.
As per sources, the three channels will start beaming on ATN in a couple of months, following regulatory approvals from Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). ATN expects to get the approval early next year.
Times Television Network is on an international expansion spree. It has already spread footprints in Australia, some African countries and Asian region. The company is also in talks to expand reach to the US.
Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd (BCCL) managing director Vineet Jain said, "ATN with expertise and market presence in Canada, built so successfully by Shan Chandrasekar, was our obvious choice as a partner. Times Television Network will now be able to serve the entertainment and news needs of the Indian diaspora residing in Canada."
Added ATN president and CEO Shan Chandrasekar, "This association with the Times Group brought nostalgic and pleasant memories of interviewing some thirty years ago, the then managing director of BCCL Sahu Ashok Kumar Jain in Mumbai for Canadian television. Thirty years have gone by and Vineet Jain, son of Sahu Ashok Kumar Jain is now at the helm of Times Group, renders a cozy sense of continuity to this association of ATN with the Times Group."
ATN operates for South Asian audiences 29 channels including Star India Plus, Zee TV, Sony Entertainment Television, B4U Movies, Zee Cinema, Star Gold, Set Max, Alpha Punjabi, MH One, Jus Punjabi, Punjjabi TV, Ary Digital, B4U Music, Jaya TV , Star Vijay, ATN Gujarati, ATN Aastha, ATN Bangla, ATN Malayam, NDTV 24x7, NDTV Good Times, Cricket Plus, Neo Cricket, Star One, Star India News, Star Chinese, Star Chinese Movies 2 and Star Channel [V] Taiwan. ATN also operates Radio Channel on XM159 across North America with the latest news, sports and entertainment. ATN is the first broadcaster to deliver South Asian content on Bell Mobility.
