DISCOVERY'S LOSS IS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S GAIN

Discovery Channel has severed ties with its communications agency of three years, the Delhi-headquartered Genesis PR.

"Relations between the two had soured and hence the latter made a pitch for the National Geographic Channel (NGC) public relations (PR) account," says one source. "When Discovery found out they sacked Genesis PR."

Others dismiss this as rubbish. "Discovery is going through some soul searching on whether it should do its PR in-house or outsource it," says another source. "The management was not open to renewing its contract with Genesis hence the latter made a pitch for NGC."

The net outcome, however, is that Genesis PR has lost the Discovery account and pocketed the NGC business. Discovery, according to reports, was meeting with other Indian PR companies.

NGC, which officially launched in India last month, is available as an encrypted subscription service in 5.5 million homes. Discovery, on the other hand, is an encrypted service, which is free, and can be seen in 10 million plus homes. The channel is expected to start levying subscription fees on cable operators from next year.