MTV Sports/CSN.... the blind leading the blind?

After having years and years of only general entertainment channels, Sri Lanka finally got two sports (well almost) centric channels in the guise of CSN & then MTV Sports. Well not quite, these two even though they call themselves "sports" channels, telecast mainly general entertainment content. Sports will account to a small percentage compared to the rest of the content.

However it should be said that CSN has more "live" sporting content compared to MTV Sports. However it seems that both channels are trying to out do each other by telecasting the same content. Presently both channels are telecasting the "World Combat Games". 

With so much of "live" sporting content out there in the guise of F1, MotoGP, tennis, football, etc, etc both these channels tend to chase after the same event. If one telecasts, the other follows through telecasting the same. Each one advertises it by calling it "exclusive right" and then it turns out to be not too "exclusive" after all. If both are telecasting two different events, it would not be too much of an issue but when there are other events, both these channels telecast the same event.

It's time for some maturity, it's good that we have two "sports" channels in Sri Lanka but we need better coverage, quality of broadcast and not two channels that copy each others "live" events and call themselves sports channels and broadcast over 80% of non sporting content.

These two channels are turning out to be pus sports channels and are only around to cut each others throats in what seems to be a more political battle rather that providing the viewer with what he/she desires to watch.

It won't be longer before one of these two channels bite the dust and then the other follows soon after.

Tamil FM to cover the entire island

Tamil FM Sri Lanka's latest Tamil language Radio Station which commenced broadcasting in the Northern peninsula on FM 99.5 Kokavil & FM 99.7 Jaffna will cover the entire island on FM 107.8 in the near future. 

The channel is termed as the first ever "Infotainment Tamil Radio in Sri Lanka", which should mean it should carry informative-educational programming in addition to music.

We wish the management & staff of Tamil FM all the best in their endeavors.

Max TV/Radio to relaunch as U TV/FM

According to unconfirmed reports that reached us, Max TV will relaunch as U TV & Max Radio will relaunch as U FM. We are not sure whether the television station will be a mainly English channel as before or will revert to a multilingual broadcast, telecasting Sinhala & English programming.

As to whether the station is to be leased to another party is yet to be determined. Max TV which originally started off as a GEC telecasting programmes of various languages was converted to a mainly English GEC about two years ago.

An expected date for the relaunch is not known yet. Please keep us updated on the latest on Max TV/Radio as the days progress.

ETV undergoing change...

Over the last several days, ETV has dropped all regular programming and is concentrating on Channel News Asia plus some music and a teaser that ends with the words "The Sky is the limit". This indicates a possible relaunch or revamping of the channel under same name or another.

ETV which was owned by the EAP Group was under the management of Vanguard Management Services also with links to the EAP Group. Now it seems that they come under the direct purview of ETI Finance also a member of the EAP Group but the role of Vanguard Management Services regarding the management of ETV is not clear. They maybe retaining management control or may have now handed it over to ETI Finance.

ETV which one of the first 24hour channels in Sri Lanka then known as ETV-2, the other 24hour channel being ETV-1 now known as Swarnavahini has gone through many changes in its history. 

Whether ETV will continue to be a English language channel is yet to be seen, they have a few options. ETV may switch from Channel News Asia and sign on with another one such as Al Jazeera after the former Max TV ended Al Jazeera broadcasts after entering into test mode. ETV may relaunch as a "sports channel" such as CSN or MTV Sports.

Over the past few months there has been a certain level on instability among local FTA channels, starting with Siyatha TV which went on test, and then returned as Siyatha TV once again but this time with no regular programming, just music and a few adverts. Voice of Asia seems to be trying to lease out Siyatha TV facilities to a third party but it seems that they haven't been able to do so as yet. Next Max TV went on test mode along with their radio station Max Radio and still remain on test mode and are scrolling about a channel that we all "deseir to watch" only that "deseir" is spelled correctly as "desire". Hope they correct the spelling mistake as soon as possible instead of making a fool of themselves.

Whether the "deseired" channel will return as Max TV or as something else is yet to be seen. Now with ETV also entering a phase like the above two, only without calling it a "Test Transmission" & have opted to retain the Station ID.

Please keep us updated on the latest regarding these developments as the days progress.

Siyatha TV returns...

Surprisingly Siyatha TV returned to the airwaves after entering a testing phase for about a month or so. A new channel was expected either in the form of "Real TV" or "Neth TV" from the beginning of October but the same channel returned.

The reason behind the testing phase is not clear and the return of "Siyatha TV" is either due to the expected lease of Voice of Asia broadcasting facilities to Asset Broadcasting not coming through or a failure on the part of Voice of Asia to launch "Real TV". Either way for some reason or the other "Siyatha TV" has returned.

We are not sure how long this channel will last and whether they will pursue a deal to lease it once again to another party or make use of this opportunity to relaunch the same channel and start afresh.

Only time will tell what is actually transpiring at Voice of Asia over Siyatha TV.