Asianet

Infobox Network
network_name = Asianet Communications Limited
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network_type = Cable television network
branding = Asianet
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country = India
available = Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, Middle East
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key_people = Rajeev Chandrasekhar
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website = http://www.asianetglobal.com
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Asianet is one of the leading Television channel companies in Kerala, India. The company is owned by Asianet Communications Limited, headed by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, with its head offices at Studio Complex, Puliyarakonam, Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum). The channel reaches over 60 countries including the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, China, South East Asia, Middle East, Europe, USA, Singapore and the lower half of the former Soviet Union.

Asianet operates three Malayalam television channels; the "Asianet" channel which was the first private television channel in Kerala, "Asianet Plus" and "Asianet News". The channels cater to a wide variety of program genres, including game shows, news, serials, live TV chat, music video shows and reality shows.Asianet is the leading television network in malayalam, taking 60% of total viewership. Fact|date=May 2008 The channel broadcast a hit reality show in south India named "Idea star singer".

In June 2007, Asianet started a new channel in Kannada, (the language for the Indian state of Karnataka) called Asianet Suvarna and on 31 March 2007, they started airing their news channel "Suvarna News". Asianet plans to lanch a Telugu channel "Sitara", and also plans to extend broadcasting in other languages.

Asianet operates a radio channel in the United Arab Emirates, named Asianet Radio 1539 AM and in Kerala with the station "Best FM 95".

Evolution

Asianet was promoted by Dr.Raji Menon and Mr.Sasikumar in 1991, when satellite television broadcasting in India was at its nascent stage. Television companies such as Star TV and Zee TV were all in their formative stages. Satellite uplinks from Indian territory was not permitted.

There were only a limited number of entrepreneurs in India who were willing to invest in sophisticated receiving and distribution equipment in the early nineties. Most distributors operated with crude fixed dish antennae and ordinary satellite receivers and amplifiers, distributing the signals to a few households in a limited area. Asianet addressed this handicap by undertaking cable distribution through a wholly owned subsidiary, Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd., to ensure last mile connectivity anywhere within Kerala.

Asianet commenced operations by the end of 1992 and started telecasting by August 1993. The state owned Doordarshan broadcaster was the only customer for Malayalam programmes. Asianet decided to develop in-house production facilities and now has a large production team with studios at Trivandrum, Kochi and Kozhikkode.

Asianet hired a transponder on the Russian "Ekran" satellite, with uplink from the USSR. Later, the company hired the transponder on the "Rimsat" satellite, and shifted the uplink to Subic Bay Island in the Philippines and then to Manila. Initially, the transmission time was only three hours per day which was gradually increased to 12 hours per day by the end of 1994. In early 1995, the uplink was shifted to Singapore where it attained full operational status. With a change in the policy of the Government of India, Asianet started an uplink from Chennai through VSNL. From July 15 2002, Asianet had its own earth station at the Asianet Complex in Trivandrum.

Asianet began its operations by telecasting for two hours daily in 1993 which was increased to round the clock. The franchise started a second channel 'Asianet Global' targeting gulf malayalees. The channel was relaunched as Asianet News on May 1, 2003 signifying an increased stress on news and current affairs in deference to viewers' demands. On July 23, 2005 Asianet launched its third channel - Asianet Plus, a complete entertainment channel. Another channel "Asianet Suvarna" has been launched in the Kannada office.

Asianet transmissions are available in the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, China, the South East Asia, the entire Persian Gulf, the UK, Europe, Australia, USA and the lower half of the former south-central Asia - around 40 million viewers worldwide in a total of over 60 countries, and today employs more than 400 personnel.

Company structure

Asianet Satellite Communications Limited (ASCL) owns the Asianet cable network, cable channels and Asianet Data Line. These operations are not part of Asianet Communications Ltd. at present. ASCL had been promoted in 1992 by Asianet Communications Ltd as its wholly owned subsidiary for cable distribution. In 1994, Asianet divested 50% of its holding in favour of Hathway Investments. In May 1999, the Company decided to exit from ASCL and sold off its balance holding to Hathway Group. Asianet Communications Ltd today is not associated with Asianet Satellite Communications Ltd.

Asianet FZ LLC, Dubai, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asianet and owns a majority stake in Asianet USA LLC.

Ownership History

Asianet Communications Ltd. (Asianet) was originally incorporated as a private limited company named “Asianet Communications Private Limited” in Delhi on March 5, 1991. The Registered Office of the Company was shifted to Chennai on December 3, 1997. The company has since been converted to a Public Limited Company with effect from January 15, 2000.

Asianet's majority share was acquired by Asianet TV Holdings Pvt. Ltd, a company owned by Jupiter Entertainment Ventures Private Limited, a subsidiary of Jupiter Capitals Ltd. Rajeev Chandrasekhar is now the Executive Chairman & Editor-in-Chief.

Board of Directors

*Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar Chairman
*Mr. K. Madhavan Vice Chairman & M.D
*Mr. M.P.K.Nair Director
*Mr. Suresh Balasubramanian Director

Channels

Asianet NewsIn June 2001, Asianet started airing its second channel "Asianet Global" which was later renamed "Asianet News". This was the first twenty-four hour news channel in the Malayalam language.The news channel airs live news bulletines round cloack with breaking news,investigatory news,and news from all walks.The channel airs news based programmes,interviews and much more...The news department of asianet is with high quality and efficient news team with ultra mordern equipments. The channel operates news centers and bureaus in Kerala, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, all the Gulf nations and the USA. It is the top rated news channel in malayalam in TAM ratesFact|date=March 2008

Asianet PlusThe third channel "Asianet Plus" was launched in August 2005. This is a 24 hrs youth oriented channel and is rated third among all the Malayalam channels, and top within Kerala Fact|date=March 2008.

Best FM 95Asianet Communication Limited launched their FM radio channel in Trichur and Kannur. They are the most popular FM network in Kerala.fact|date=June 2008

Asianet SuvarnaSuvarna is the least popular Kannada channel. fact|date=June 2008. It has the tag line "24 carat manorangane". The channel airs soap operas, talk shows, news programmes, and game shows. It premieres Kannada movies and presents the most popular Kannada reality show "Confident Star Singer". Suvarna NewsRepresented with the tag line "neera, ditha, niranthara", the channel broadcasts 24 hour live news bullentins, and special bulletins for crime, sports, business and entertainment.

Asianet SitaraThe new telugu channel from the house of Asianet,released in october

Sitara NewsThe news channel in telugu..mostly by november

References

External links

* [http://www.asianetglobal.com Official site]
* [http://www.asianetplus.tv Asianet Plus]
* [http://www.asianetuk.com Asianet UK]
* [http://www.asianetusa.tv Asianet USA]
* [http://www.asianetafrica.co.za Asianet Africa]