MUMBAI: Kerala's Indiavision Satellite Communications Ltd, which runs the news channel Indiavision, is gearing up to launch an entertainment channel in the Malayalam television market. The company is targeting 5 November for the launch of its proposed youth-oriented entertainment channel 'Yes'.

"The new channel will be an out-and-out entertainment channel with programmes mainly targeted at the Malayalam-speaking youth. We are investing about Rs 200 million in the venture," Indiavision resident director Jamaal Farooq tells indiantelevision.com.

According to Farooq, the funding would be done through equity mobilisation. He adds that the company is looking to source the funding from individuals based in Kerala. "Our flagship (news) channel Indiavision is mainly driven by investments from Non Resident Indians (NRIs). But, in the case of Yes, we are tapping only Kerala-based individuals."

Farooq also informs that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has offered to invest Rs 20 million in Indiavision.

Yes, a free-to-air channel, will be using a transponder space of 4.5 mbps on the Insat 4A satellite.

Indiavision is also planning to launch an English news channel targeting South Indian expats based in the Middle East. "We are planning to launch an English news channel in the Middle East after the launch of Yes," says Farooq.