Standard group takes over NRI TV

Chandigarh, Aug 3 (UNI) The Punjab-based Standard group of companies has taken over the NRI TV, the three-year-old news and entertainment channel that claims to educate the Indians going abroad about their prospects in various countries.

Managing director Nachhatar Singh of the Standard group of companies, which has so far been manufacturing tractors and harvestors, said the main highlight of the channel would be two-hour of prime time programming to be beamed from Canada to provide useful information to those wishing to immigrate from India to other countries.

This programme, to be produced by Toronto-based Ravinder Singh Pannu, would be telecast from 0800 to 0900 hrs and 2000 to 2100 hrs IST. Mr Pannu had been associated with the NRI TV since its launch in June 2003, he said.

The procedure for immigration and laws applicable to the immigrants in Canada and various other countries would also be highlighted over the channel, Mr Singh said.

He said the NRI TV would also try to focus its programmes on the world of industry which was being ''overlooked'' by most of the existing channels.

As the company had been associated with farmers in the past, its channel would try to take up their problems as well in some of their programmes, he added.

Beginning with Punjabi, the NRI TV would diversify in other national languages, Mr Singh said.

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