Disney Star is set to launch nine new channels in February 2023. The broadcaster announced the launch of new channels while declaring the new tariff in compliance with New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0. 

The channels to be launched next year includes two Hindi movie channels - Star Gold Romance and Star Gold Thrills, English movie channel - Star Movies Select, three sports channels - Star Sports Select HD2, Star Sports 1 Tamil HD and Star Sports 1 Telugu HD, one kids channel - Disney Channel HD, Tamil GEC Vijay Super HD and Malayalam movie channel - Asianet Movies HD. 

Sony Pal and Colors Rishtey have pulled out of DD Free Dish, as per media reports. This is despite the channels, owned by Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and Viacom18 respectively, winning slots in the e-auction conducted in November.

This is also quite contrary to DD Free Dish's confirmation last month when the platform put out a statement saying that both Sony Pal and Colors Rishtey will be available on Free Dish from December.

According to Chrome LIVE Week 49’22 data, Hindi News genre became the top gainer of the week as it grew by 1.29pc in HSM excluding <1 lakh market. DD News garnered the highest OTS with 99.8pc followed by ABP News with 99.7pc at second position and India TV with 99.6pc at third position. 

English News genre claimed the second position by gaining 0.49pc in 6 Metros. Republic TV gained the highest OTS with 99.8pc followed by Sansad TV with 98.9pc at second position and CNN News 18 with 82.6pc at the third position.

Religious genre secured the third position and grew by 0.42pc in HSM excluding <1 lakh market. Sanskar gained the highest OTS with 99.8pc followed by Aastha with 98.5pc at second position and Jinvani with 90.6pc at third position.

In Week 46 of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India Data Report, the top five positions in the chart remained same compared to last week. Sun TV continued its lead with 2567.17 (000) AMA in the across genre category followed by Star Plus at 2nd spot with 2534.4 (000) AMA and Star Maa at 3rd spot with 2239.68 (000) AMA. Goldmines retained its 4th spot with 1945.23 (000) AMA followed by Dangal at 5th spot with 1914.02 (000) AMA. Colors moved one spot up and claimed the 6th position with 1817.23 (000) AMA followed by Star Pravah at 7th position with 1660.83 (000) AMA and Star Vijay at 8th position with 1543.34 (000) AMA. Zee Kannada entered the chart with 1459.69 (000) AMA and claimed the 9th spot. Sony Sab retained its 10th spot with 1455.19 (000) AMA. 

BARC India released its Week 46 data for South GEC markets including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. The positions in the top five list changed for some GEC markets.

Tamil (Tamil Nadu/Pondicherry)

In the Tamil speaking market, the positions in the chart remained same compared to last week. Sun TV continued its lead with 2310.09 (000) AMA followed by Star Vijay with 1423.31 (000) AMA at 2nd spot and Zee Tamil at 3rd spot with 897.7 (000) AMA. KTV retained its 4th spot with 632.39 (000) AMA followed by Star Vijay Super with 350.11 (000) AMA at 5th spot.

The Telecom Disputes and Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has passed interim directions to Prasar Bharati to provide unencrypted signals of DD Sports to SITI Networks Ltd. and Dish TV. The interim order came to be passed in two petitions filed by SITI Networks Ltd. and Dish TV. 

SITI Networks Ltd. was represented by Trust Legal through Partner Ritwika Nanda and Associates Ajay Noronha and Tejbir Chugh led by Meet Malhotra, Sr. Adv. Dish TV was represented by Singh & Singh led by CA Sundaram, Sr. Adv.

Zee Media has decided to shut down Hindi news channel Zee Hindustan, according to a media report.

The channel operations were being helmed by Shamsher Singh. It reportedly has around 300 staffers.

According to Chrome LIVE Week 46’22 data, Hindi News genre became the top gainer of the week as it grew by 2.17pc in HSM excluding <1 lakh market. DD News and India TV garnered the highest OTS with 99.9pc and stood at first and second position respectively. ABP News with 99.8pc secured the third position. 

English GEC genre claimed the second position as it grew by 1.27pc in 6 Metros. The Q secured the highest OTS with 50.4pc followed by Colors Infinity with 41.0pc at second position and Comedy Central with 40.4pc at the third position.

Religious genre stood at third position and grew by 0.98pc in HSM excluding <1 lakh market. Sanskar gained the highest OTS with 99.8pc followed by Aastha with 98.8pc at second position and Zee Salaam with 90.5pc at third position.

After NDTV and Zee Media, iTV network has pulled out from BARC ratings with immediate effect. The network owns nine channels including two national channels - India News, NewsX and seven regional channels - India News Haryana, India News UP/UK, India News MPCG, India News Gujarat, India News Rajasthan, India News Punjab-Himachal-Jammu Kashmir and NE News.

According to Chrome LIVE Week 45’22 data, Sports genre became the top gainer of the week as it grew by 0.08pc in All India 1 Lakh+ market. DD Sports gained the highest OTS with 98.8pc followed by Star Sports First with 83.3pc at second position and Star Sports 2 at third position with 81.2pc.