Sun TV Network is planning to launch five more channels this fiscal. The Kalanithi Maran-run network is also planning to invest Rs 150-160 crore on acquiring movie content. Meanwhile, the company has set a target to increase its advertisement revenues 12-15 per cent during the present fiscal.

While addressing analysts, Sun TV's management said the company has got license to launch a dozen channels and during the current fiscal five or six channels will be launched, focussing mainly on Southern languages, including one kid channel for Malayalam audience. Presently, the network has 20 channels across four south Indian languages of Tamil, Telegu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Sun TV Network, India's leading regional broadcaster, plans to launch six channels this fiscal and invest Rs 1.6 billion towards purchase of movies for telecast rights.

The Malayalam kids channel will be launched within a month.

"We are looking at launching 5-6 channels this year. The launch will be towards the end of the second or third quarter. There will not be much of a capital expenditure requirement," Sun Group chief executive officer Tony D'Silva tells Indiantelevision.com, while declining to reveal further details.

Asianet channel is launching a new reality show, Mrs.Kerala, from 7 August. The show will air every Sunday at 2 pm and target housewives.
Mrs Kerala will have 24 women, aged below 35, displaying their talents before the jury comprising actors Captain Raju & Menaka.

The tests would involve skills in dressing up models in various costumes and jewellery, dealing with different tricky solutions, general knowledge, acting, dancing and singing ability.

Sony Entertainment Television and Hyderabad-based Ramoji group are set to ink what could be the country's biggest media deal, at an estimated Rs2,600 crore.

Going by sources, the deal, which will see Sony take control of 11 of the 12 channels in the ETV basket, owned by Ramoji Rao's Ushodaya Enterprises, will be concluded by the end of this month.

"In less than a month, we should see the deal coming through. Except a few issues that are required to get legal approvals, there is no major roadblock," a source said, adding that the valuations worked out are attractive for both Ramoji group and investor JM Financial, which is selling its stake Ushodaya.