As a run-up to its Indian launch, edutainment TV channel, Da Vinci Learning has partnered with Airtel Digital TV, Siticable and Digicable to broadcast its content, reports Indian Television.com.
The report states that subscribers will get access to 150 hours of the channel’s content through the kids’ section of the Video on Demand service on Airtel Digital TV. Siticable will receive 6 months worth of branded block content while Digicable will receive 12 months worth of branded block content from the channel. The financial details of the partnership have not been disclosed.
The channel will be showcasing different set of shows through these MSOs. While Airtel Digital TV and Siti Cable are likely to showcase programs like Kid Detectives and Lab Rats Challenge, Digicable will showcase programs such as Logo Animation and Indent Kid, among others.
It is worth noting that Da Vinci GmbH had received clearance from Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in November 2013, for an investment of up to Rs 5 crores to setup a wholly owned subsidiary which will carry out the down-linking and distribution of a non-news and non-current affairs edutainment channel.
Founded in 2007, Da Vinci currently operates two educational television channels. Da Vinci Learning is the company’s general infotainment channel targeting 4-14 years olds and their parents while Da Vinci U is a channel that offers full length lectures across various topics from several universities. Da Vinci claims to cover topics ranging from physics and chemistry to history and nature. These channels are currently broadcast in 12 localized versions across 29 countries like Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Romania and others.
Other educational initiatives of Airtel DTH: In March 2012, Airtel Digital TV had launched an interactive test preparation service on TV, iExam, which will offer coaching modules, mock and practice tests to students preparing for competitive exams.
Aakash Educational Services Limited had also partnered with Airtel digital TV in August 2012, to provide coaching services through its iExam service.
It had also introduced a new interactive value added service called iEnglish, to help customers to improve their English speaking skills by offering language tutorials.
