MUMBAI: After launching its Hindi general entertainment channel Real earlier this week with the Alva Brothers, Turner has now announced the launch of a new channel along with Warner Bros. Entertainment in India called WB.
The 24-hour English entertainment channel WB will showcase movie and television programming licensed from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution (WBITD) and will go on air from 15 March. The channel will be distributed by Zee-Turner and will be available on both DTH and C&S platforms.
Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific president Steve Marcopoto said, "Following on the successful launch of Real, our first Hindi general entertainment channel, early this week, we are thrilled to be introducing another distinctive new channel from Turner Broadcasting, WB. For nearly two decades Turner Broadcasting Systems has built its leadership in the India media and entertainment industry on a bedrock of rich, powerful and compelling content. Now we expand our foundation with WB, leveraging the greatest hits from the largest and fastest-growing film and television library in the world. With a distinctive feel and creatively presented franchises, it will indeed be entertainment made better."
Turner International India Private Limited (TIIPL) South Asia vice president and deputy general manager – distribution & business operations Siddharth Jain added, "Our tag line – Now That’s Hollywood! – encapsulates and highlights our edge, positioning and programming. Sourcing our content from a premium and legendary studio – Warner Bros. Entertainment – WB will consistently offer Hollywood’s best, akin to an entertainment buff playing the best of the best from his personal, DVD collection, at all times. The channel will bring the best of award- winning Hollywood entertainment to TV sets in India, slickly packaged."
Warner Bros. International Television president Jeffrey R. Schlesinger said, "We are pleased to be providing our programming and the iconic Warner brand to our sister company Turner to launch WB branded service and to bring the best of Hollywood entertainment to viewers in India. Available 24 hours per day, WB will showcase our world-class motion picture franchises and hit TV series, and we look forward to working closely with Turner to make WB a hit with Indian viewers."
Primetime viewing on WB will include franchises such as WB Platinum that will showcase channel premieres; WB Nitro will feature the biggest actions hits to hit town; WB Triple Play features “must-see” movies that are all-time entertainers; WB Cinematheque will have Classic Films; and WB Premieres will offer a mix of comedy and drama series.
Turner and Warner Bros has also launched the channel’s website – www.itsonWB.com, which will have information on all movies and TV series, including video trailers, cast information, plot summaries, image galleries and schedules, as well as daily updates on the latest showbiz news from around the globe, including exclusive video features. The site will also have user-generated movie and TV show reviews, ratings, discussion boards and entertainment-based polls.
