MUMBAI: In a significant development that is set to deeply impact the industry, Network18 Group and Sun Network have formed a distribution joint venture company.

The new entity, to be called Sun18, will start with the distribution of 33 channels across all platforms including cable, DTH, IPTV, HITS and MMDS.

The alliance marks the entry of Network18 Group into the Indian television distribution space. It also ends Viacom18's deal with TheOneAlliance, the Sony-Discovery joint venture which distributes channels.

Interestingly, the Network18 group channels (CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, IBN-7 and IBN-Lokmat) will move from the Star Den JV to Sun18. Only the Star channels, Times Now and Zoom will remain with Star Den.

Sun18 also gets to distribute the Viacom18 channels - Colors, MTV, Nick and Vh1. The new JV will also handle the Disney channels - The Disney Channel, Disney XD and Hungama TV.

Sun18 will have India's largest multilingual network comprising Sun TV, KTV, Sun News, Sun Music, Chutti TV, Adithya, Gemini TV, Teja TV, Gemini News, Gemini Music, Navvulu TV, Kushi TV, Surya TV, Kiran TV, Udaya TV, Udaya Movies, U2, Udaya Varthegalu, Ushe TV and Chintu TV.

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