Kids
Monthly subscription Rs 6 for Hungama TV
NEW DELHI: Hungama TV, the proposed kids’ channel from the UTV stable, which would be distributed by Star, will be priced at Rs. 6 per subscriber per month.
Whether this would immediately result in an increase of the Star bouquet price is not known but he broadcast and cable regulator feels that a directive on freeze of cable prices, effective 26 December, 2003, does not apply to new channels being launched.
Seeking co-operation, in a letter to the cable industry, especially multi-system operators (MSOs), United Home Entertainment vice-president Kevin Periera has said that Hungama would be India’s first homegrown kids’ entertainment channel in Hindi.
Hungama will offer multi-genre content for kids in the age group between 4 and 14 years. The channel would be ready for launch this month. Hungama would beam off a C-band transponder from PAS 10 satellite, which houses some of the hot channels like BBC, Sony, SET Max, among others, with the downlink frequency being 4074.5 MHz. The downlink polarisation would be vertical.
With a spate of new channel launches lined up this year and early next year in India, including some from the Disney and Discovery stables, it was being speculated whether a Telecom Regulatory Authority of India-mandated freeze on cable prices would be a hindrance.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, an official from Trai clarified that the price-freeze would does not affect the new channels being planned. “The freeze, till Trai comes up with recommendations on the related issues, is on prices that were prevalent as on December 26, 2003. How can the freeze be effective on pricing of new products,” the official quized back. He further added that the confusion would likely to be cleared when Trai would submit its report to the I&B ministry.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
