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And now, a Punjabi channel!

The first satellite television channel catering exclusively to Punjabi viewers will start beaming from November 1.

The free-to-air channel -- Punjabi World -- which commences on the Punjabi state day, will initially focus on the tercentenary of the Khalsa panth (sect), which is being marked from April 13, 1999.

Channel chairman Kishore Motiani said a decision would be taken within a week about the communication satellite that would be used to feed the Punjabi community world-wide.

"It will reflect the aspirations, hopes, culture, heritage and beliefs of Punjabis not only of India but also of Asia, Europe, America and Australia," he said.

He said there were about 200 million Punjabis of Indian origin all over the world.

M Suneel, managing director of the new channel, said that around Rs 500 million would be invested in the channel.

He said its expansion would be in two phases. In the first, it would beam to the Middle East, and South and South East Asia, including Pakistan which had a large number of Punjabis. The second phase would cover the western hemisphere, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Pavan Malhotra, a director with the channel, denied that the Punjabi World is a religion-based channel although it would have nine hours of religious telecasts everyday. The channel would have a mixture of entertainment -- serials, feature films, dramas, and songs -- as well.

Rabindra Narayan, director, programming, said the channel would have serials like Heer ranjha and Shaheed Bhagat Singh, depicting the role of Punjabis in the freedom struggle.

A preview of the programmes showed a mixture of religion, films, and 'everything related to Punjabiyat.'

UNI

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