NewsX to be re-launched as IMN News by July

INX News,which broadcasts English news channel NewsX,said it will re-launch the channel under a new brand name,IMN News,by July this year.

The re-launch follows the buyout of the channel by Nai Dunia owner Vinay Chhajlani and Jehangir Pocha last year from INX Media.

“We will relaunch our channel and it is likely to happen by July,after the summer break… The channel will sport a new name,IMN News,as well as a new logo and on-air look,” NewsX co-promoter Jehangir Pocha said.

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He said the company has roped in internationally renowned Argentine design firm Stein Branding for designing the new look of the channel. It has also hired TBWA as its advertising agency to carry out the media campaign for the re-launch.

“Once the channel is re-launched,we will introduce 12-14 new programmes focusing on general news,sports,business,entertainment and talk shows,” Pocha said.

He,however,declined to comment on the investments made for the re-branding exercise.

Pocha said the company has also applied to the Registrar of Companies for changing the name of the company and the response is awaited.

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NewsX was founded by former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani as part of INX Media,which also included music and entertainment channels. It was bought over by Chhajlani and Pocha within 12 months of the launch.

The channel,which is struggling to make a mark in a highly competitive market with the likes of Times Now,NDTV 24X7,CNN-IBN and Headlines Today,has already hired some well known names to beef up special shows in areas like foreign affairs and sports. They include Saeed Naqvi,Bishen Singh Bedi and Mohinder Amarnath.

While the company has no plans of expanding into other categories in the short-run,Pocha hinted at the possibility of an expansion into more channels in the non-fiction category.