MUMBAI: Recently launched Telugu news channel TV9 will soon have two siblings for company. Launching before the year is out is a Kannada news channel and a Telugu entertainment channel.

TV9 CEO V Ravi Prakash told indiantelevision.com that TV9 Kannada would be ready for test run by September, while the entertainment channel would be launched by December. TV9 Kannada will be headquartered in Bangalore.

Outlining his prorities, Prakash said TV9 Kannada would target the urban youth and women.

"With our Kannada news channel, we will be targeting the urban populace below 35 and at the same time we want to focus on women who have been bombarded with more and more soaps these days," he said.

Funded by venture capitalist Srini Raju's i-Labs Associated Fund and Chennai-based Unify Wealth Management, TV9 was launched on 1 February 2004. The channel is also available in the US and Europe.