Briefs

ZEE MULTIMEDIA HITS THE ROAD WITH ITS BOND ISSUE

Zee Multimedia - the holding company for the Zee Network's international operations - has begun promoting its US$125 million unsecured bonds in the US, reports Indian business daily, Business Standard. The issue had been planned for July 1998 but it had to be called off following talks between promoter Subhash Chandra and Rupert Murdoch's Star TV on a stronger alliance between the two. The issue is being lead managed by investment banking firm, Morgan Stanley.

PRASAR BHARATI EMPLOYEES STRIKE WORK

Some 23,000 employees of the Prasar Bharati - the holding company of DD and All India Radio - have struck work since last week. The employees belonging to various cadres have been demanding parity of wages with engineering and programming staff. I&B minister Pramod Mahajan announced over the weekend that he was not open to any negotiations with the employees as long as they were on strike. In fact, his ministry was going to take strict action against the agitating staffers by issuing suspension notices. Several programs on both DD and All India Radio have been disrupted because of the agitation.

CALCUTTA BANS BASIC SUBSCRIPTION CHANNELS

Cable TV operators in Calcutta led by RPG Netcom and Siticable announced a blackout of all basic subscription channels right from Star Sports to Star Movies to TNT & Cartoon Network. Subscribers in the city have stopped receiving all the basic subscription channels in their homes.

VIJAY TV RELAUNCHES THIS WEEK

Tamil TV channel Vijay TV - with a new channel identity - will relaunch on 14 April, which is Tamil New Year Day. Vijay TV is being repositioned as a service offering young, vibrant and innovative programming. The channel will be showing commissioned programs with youth-based interactive formats, reality TV and film-based shows during prime time. News and current affairs programs are being pared down to the bare minimum.

ANOTHER INTERNET TV OFFERING

Mirc Electronics, manufacturer of TVs under the Onida brand name, is promoting an Internet TV called the Web Cruiser. Priced at Rs 24,922, the TV allows users to surf the web and access email with the help of an infrared keyboard. The company is offering 25 hours of Internet access free to each buyer.

MAHARASHTRA OFFERS SOPS FOR MULTIPLEXES

The Maharashtra (of which Mumbai is the capital) state government is laying out the red carpet for companies wanting to set up multiplexes. A slew of incentives right from entertainment and luxury tax exemption for four to five years to cheaper power to exemption from sales tax for cinematography euqipment purchased for the multiplexes has been announced by the government.

MTV STARTS VJ HUNT

MTV has started scouting for new VJs through the second nationwide Colgate Gel and MTV VJ Hunt from 1 April. A mysterious man in a yellow suit will travel around the country selecting the finalists for it VJ contest, which will end on 27 June 1999.