PRESS RELEASE

Network18 Group & Sun Network Form Strategic Alliance
To create one of India’s biggest Distribution Ventures

 ‘Sun18’ – India’s first truly pan-India distribution entity

Launch a new bouquet comprising Viacom18 channels, Network18 channels,
Disney channels & Twenty Sun TV Network channels

Mumbai, July 13th 2010 - Network18 Group, India's largest News Network and leading full-play media conglomerate and Sun Network, India's largest media conglomerate, today announced their strategic alliance to launch one of India’s biggest distribution entities. The new entity, to be called Sun18, will be the first truly pan-India distribution company and aims to become one of the dominant players in the approx Rs. 16,000 crore pay-tv subscription market, over the next 2 years. This alliance also marks the entry of Network18 Group into the Indian television distribution space.

As part of the agreement, to begin with, Sun18 will distribute a total of 33 channels across all platforms in India via all networks including cable, DTH, IPTV, HITS and MMDS from :

• Network18 - India’s largest News Network, comprising CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, IBN-7 and IBN-Lokmat
• Viacom18 - India’s fastest growing entertainment network, comprising COLORS, MTV, Nick and Vh1
• Sun Network – India’s largest multilingual network comprising SUN TV, KTV, Sun News, Sun Music, Chutti TV, Adithya, Gemini TV, Teja TV, Gemini  News, Gemini Music, Navvulu TV, Kushi TV, Surya TV, Kiran TV, Udaya TV, Udaya Movies, U2, Udaya Varthegalu, Ushe TV and Chintu TV
• Disney India Network – one of India’s leading kids network, comprising The Disney Channel, Disney XD and Hungama TV

With these 33 channels, the Sun18 bouquet is already the highest GRP delivering bouquet in the Indian television space. The option to aggregate third party channels is also one of the opportunities this venture will seek to explore.

As part of the strategic alliance, the business has been structured uniquely, whereby two new companies are being formed – Sun18 Media Services North Co. and Sun18 Media Services South Co. While Sun18 South will manage the South India market (non Hindi-speaking-markets) and will be operated by the Sun Network, Sun18 North will manage the rest of India markets and will be operated by the Network18 Group. Sun18 North will be headed by Haresh Chawla (Group CEO - Network18 and Viacom18) as its CEO & Director. Rajesh Kamat (Group COO – Viacom18 & CEO - COLORS), will be the COO of Sun18 North. Sun18 South will be headed by Tony D’Silva as its CEO.

Speaking about the partnership, Raghav Bahl, Founder, Network18 Group, said, "This partnership extends Network18's presence into yet another critical component of the Indian television & entertainment space. In Sun Group, we've found a partner that not only complements our own strengths, but is also as ambitious to change the landscape of the Indian broadcasting industry." He further added, “Distribution is one of the high-growth areas in this industry and we’re excited to now have a presence in this part of the business as well.”

Mr. Kalanithi Maran, Chairman & Managing Director, SUN Network, said “SUN18 is a very important initiative for us in the distribution platform business and is being created with the vision of better leveraging our very successful television brands across the country. Network 18 is one of the best managed Media enterprises in India and in them we believe we have found an alliance partner to fuel our distribution plans for the rest of the country. The content assets and resources of SUN TV Network and Network 18, will enable us to continue to thrive in an ever-changing media landscape.  Consumers of all of our products – on screens large and small – will have the benefit of enhanced content and experiences, delivered to them in new and better ways as a result of this initiative. It also signals our deep commitment to drive greater growth from subscription revenues.”

Commenting on Sun18, Haresh Chawla said, "Given the significance of distribution in the television business, we’re excited to set up our own operations through an alliance with the Sun Network, to unlock the huge potential of this domain.” He further added, “The Sun18 bouquet is going to be the highest GRP delivering bouquet in the industry – with Network18’s News channels that are leaders in their respective categories, Viacom18’s vibrant brands and the clout of SUN’s multilingual channels.” According to Haresh, “This unique alliance will bridge one of the widest gaps that has existed in the Indian television space for long – the gap between the South and the rest-of-India markets.”

Tony D Silva said "The setting up of this Joint Distribution Network is a unique structure in the history of pay distribution in India, and will go a long way in driving maximum benefit to all in the value chain”

Ajay Vidyasagar, Chief Operating Officer of Sun TV Network said: “The ability to engage with a customer to market sun TV and Colors - India’s largest regional Television brand and India’s most exciting Hindi GEC brand respectively - is one of the opportunities through SUN18 that we are very excited about. The thirty three channels that this combine will go to market with present an opportunity to reset the value chain and create a new way of working in India’s Distribution landscape. We look forward to strengthening this exciting association with Network 18 over time”

Mumbai, October 24, 2011 - This Diwali, Sun 18 adds sparkle to television viewing by introducing three channels - COLORS, CNBC Prime and History Channel in high-definition formats. With the transformation to HD, viewers can now enjoy an ultimate combination of impeccable image delivery combined with unmatched audio experience of their favourite channels.
The three channels offer a TRUE HD 1080i picture with 5.1 Dolby digital sound, thus significantly enhancing the viewing experience to the audience. To enjoy this HD experience, viewers will need to have a HD TV set and an HD set-top box from the DTH platforms such as Airtel, Dish and Videocon & digital Cable providers like Hathway.

The 46 channels distributed by Sun18 include COLORS, MTV, Nick, Vh1, Homeshop18, CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18, CNBC-Awaaz, IBN-7, IBN-Lokmat, Sonic, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Hungama TV, SUN TV, KTV, Sun News, Sun Music, Chutti TV, Adithya, Gemini TV, Gemini Comedy, Gemini News, Gemini Music, Gemini Movies TV, Kushi TV, Surya TV, Kiran TV, Udaya TV, Udaya Movies, Udaya Music, Udaya News, Udaya Comedy, Chintu TV, Sun Action, Gemini Action, Suriyan TV, Surya Action, SUN TV RI, Sun Life, Gemini Life, Sun News English and the three HD channels namely COLORS HD, CNBC TV 18 Prime and History True HD (Also in SD mode)