Network18 gears up to launch CNBC Bazaar, Firstbiz.com and MTV Indies

The network recently announced the launch of Rishtey, another Hindi GEC under the Viacom18 bouquet.

Network18, the Indian media conglomerate, has announced the launch of three new channels under its portfolio.

While the expansion of CNBC brand in the Gujarat market has been in the news for more than a year, the group's chief executive officer B Sai Kumar, while speaking at the CNBC-TV18-hosted India Business Leader Awards, announced that the group will launch the Gujarati business channel 'CNBC Bazaar' soon.

The network also plans to launch a business news website called Firstbiz.com. It is pertinent to note here that the network already runs a news and analysis website, Firstpost.com.

Meanwhile, in December 2012, Viacom18 (a JV between Viacom and Network18's television subsidiary TV18) had announced the launch of the second Hindi general entertainment channel, Rishtey.

The JV already runs one of the leading Hindi GECs, Colors. Rishtey, which is expected to be launched sometime in March, was first launched the UK in 2012. The channel airs re-runs of programming such as Jai Shri Krishna, Bairi Piya and Jeevan Saathi. In February 2013, it was announced that Rishtey will air some programmes of Pakistani channel Hum TV, such as Humsafar. The content for Rishtey's India feed is not announced yet; however, it will join the list of STAR Utsav and Zee Anmol that air re-runs of the older shows of their respective siblings.

Viacom18 is also expected to launch MTV Indies, a musical channel focusing on local content. The channel will be launched in association with PepsiCo and is expected to go on-air in another 20 days.

For the record, through its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast, the group operates the news channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group).