Mumbai: Business Broadcast News Pvt. Ltd (BBNPL) owned English Business News channel BTVI has suspended broadcast transmission with effective from midnight of 31st August 2019.
The official notification issued by the channel stated “Business Television India (BTVI) will be suspending transmission on broadcast platforms w.e.f midnight Saturday, 31st August 2019”
Over the next few days, we will communicate the future steps towards ensuring a smooth transition of our operations” added the statement.
The Twitter handle BTVI Live (@BTVI officially tweeted “A heartfelt thanks to our followers and viewers. We have paused our broadcast operations and will have further announcements in due course. Watch this space. And stay with us”.
https://twitter.com/BTVI/status/1168029386768932864
Business Television India (BTVI) was formerly known as Bloomberg TV India, Bloomberg UTV and UTVi. Ronnie Screwvala launched the UTVi English business news channel in April 2008, along with a content deal for ABC News through Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific).
Bloomberg also took a stake in the channel in 2008. By late 2009, UTVi had rebranded as Bloomberg UTV, as UTV had switched to Bloomberg for additional content. Later Anil Ambani owned Reliance ADAG Group purchased UTV’s stake in 2012 causing another rebranding to Bloomberg TV India.
On August 1, 2016, the channel was rechristened as BTVI from Bloomberg TV India after the licensing agreement between Business Broadcast News and Bloomberg LP came to an end.
Earlier in January, both Business Broadcast News and Bloomberg had decided not to renew their licensing agreement, ending a seven-year-old partnership.
During the past couple of months, BTVI has witnessed a huge volume of employee exits owing to uncertainty in future of the channel and continuing financial troubles.
Market sources indicate that the channels might downsize its operations limited to digital platforms.
