NDTV launches new channel Imagine Showbiz

NDTV Imagine, the entertainment venture of NDTV launched its latest initiative, Imagine Showbiz, a 24-hour Bollywood Business and entertainment channel. Imagine Showbiz is a JV company between NDTV Imagine and Cinestar Advertising.  The channel will go on air on August 15, 2008.

The programming of Imagine Showbiz will showcase updates and coverage of the latest happenings and will present complete features and presentations on the people, the products and the business of Bollywood.

Harsh Rohatgi, EVP, Revenue Management and New Ventures, NDTV Imagine, said, “We believe that if it is treated and presented in a meaningful and entertaining manner consistently, Bollywood-based content will definitely find appeal across audiences.”

Abhimanyu Singh and Premnath Rajagopalan of Cinestar Advertising said, “Imagine Showbiz will connect to audiences by providing them in-depth, unbiased, entertaining Bollywood content that goes beneath the skin of the industry and gives viewers a real insight into the world of Bollywood. It is a channel for the Hindi film lover.  The pedigree of the NDTV brand and also the impact and awareness created by NDTV Imagine in such a short time, coupled with our experience in the entertainment business combines to create a unique and powerful partnership.”

The Indian entertainment sector is forging ahead at a tremendous pace in the Indian economy, clocking a robust 17 per cent growth in 2007 over the previous year. Within this, Bollywood has seen an explosion in every facet: the nature & scale of movies being released, growth of the theatrical business through multiplexes and digital distribution and also the boom in home video. All of this has resulted in the Bollywood industry growing exponentially.