Hinduja Movie Channel Next Year Likely

The Hindujas are negotiating with several satellite operators with a view to turning the cable-delivered, 18-hour movie channel, Cable Video Opera (CVO), into a satellite channel from next year.

According to cable and satellite industry sources, the conversion may come by the first quarter of 1998. CVOs affairs are looked after by Cable Video India Ltd, a joint venture company of the Hinduja group and Cable Master.However, it is not known whether CVO in its new avtaar would remain free-to-air or change to a pay channel like the Star Movies and ESPN.

The Hindujas have also negotiated with the Hong Kong-based Vtech to manufacture for them decoders that could encrypt even the cable-delivered CVO. The encryption part will depend on the outcome of the broadcast bill, the sources said.

 

Simultaneously, the Hindujas are holding talks with some cable operators in Nepal to spread CVO in the country since Hindi films are extremely popular there. The Hindujas involvement in the Nepalese venture will be through IN Media International, a division of a Hinduja group company, HBI Inc, the sources said.