ZEE Network is strengthening its bouquet later this year with the launch of its seventh channel in the UK (Sky Digital)...ZEE News is next on the agenda.

ZEE Network, undoubtedly Europe's most watched Asian TV network, already boasts of the success of its existing services- ZEE TV, ZEE Cinema, ZEE Music, Alpha ETC Punjabi, ZEE Gujarati and the recently launched Raghav Bahl English infotainment channel South Asia World (SAW).

"We are currently working on the transponder. We expect it will take us six months," ZEE Telefilms international president Dheeraj Kapuria told website IndianTelevision.

As reported previously on Biz Asia, SAW is encrypting its broadcast in August and will be sold as part of the ZEE channels package. Not controlled by ZEE Network in anyway, the channel is owned by Raghav Bahl, with ZEE in charge solely of UK and Europe distribution of the news service. "With ZEE News, we will have completed the news package in Hindi and English. We are discussing on what we should price South Asia World at. We are encrypting it on 1st August. But it will be lower than the £3 we charge for our regional language channels. It will have an a-la-carte as well as a bundled rate," says Kapuria.

ZEE News, India's first ever Hindi news channel has been a huge success with viewers and is now India's second most watched news service. With the launch of ZEE News in the UK and other ZEE channels, which will follow next year, the price of the ZEE Network package will also be hiked. Moreover, the network will become Europe's biggest Asian network.

Related article: South Asia World to encrypt in August