Times Network to launch property channel 'MagicBricks Now'

The dedicated housing and property channel, a first in the country, will go on air from November 1, 2015

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | October 28, 2015

Times Network on Wednesday  formally announced in Delhi the launch of its property channel, MagicBricks Now. The channel will go on air from November 1, 2015. The announcement was made in the presence of M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Parliamentary Affairs.

Naidu said, “I'm happy that there will be more focus on this sector. News and views should remain separate. The channel will help create a platform for the housing sector, and it ties in with the government's aim to create housing for all by 2022.”

The real estate advertising market in the country is worth Rs 2,500 crore, of which Rs 900 crore is garnered by the Times Group itself, primarily in the print segment. By launching this channel, the Times Group is attempting to increase the share of real estate advertising in the visual medium.

(Left) MK Anand and M Venkaiah Naidu (Right)

The channel's editor, Faye D'Souza  explaining how the channel's focus will be the end consumer and will serve as a platform for the real estate and infrastructure sector, said, “MagicBricks Now is here with a singular focus – the end consumer. It will offer a rich array of programmes that range from news bulletins to property hotlines, debates, leadership insights and more. These will not just keep the end consumer informed, but will serve as a common meeting ground for knowledge-driven individual buyers, sellers and businesses looking seriously at the world of property and real estate.”

Explaining the positioning of the channel, MK Anand, MD and CEO, Times Network, said, “MagicBricks Now has been launched to guide the consumer through the complex and seemingly intimidating world of real-estate transactions. While real estate is of paramount importance in the life of every Indian, equally, the space is full of complexities, jargon and confusion. MagicBricks Now will provide unbiased, trustworthy and the most authoritative perspectives on the property business to help the consumer 'Be un-confused'."

The channel programming includes 'The Property Guide', 'The Home Buyer's Guide', 'Property Hotline', 'The Interiors Show', 'The Vastu show', 'Real Estate Tycoon's and, of course, 'The News', every hour.

The spotlight will be on relevant issues like local civic amenities, sustainability, and environment and bilingual anchors will make the channel accessible to all.

The channel's marketing campaigns will unfold post Diwali and Anand expects the viewership of MagicBricks Now to be higher than that of all English News channels. He expects the channel to break even in the 4 to 5 months.

Speaking about the association with Times Network to create the new channel, Sudhir Pai, CEO, MagicBricks.com, said, “MagicBricks is delighted to be a part of this initiative with the Times Network. Our endeavour has always been to make our brand ubiquitous across media so as to provide consumers with rich and in-depth information when it comes to matters of property. With this association we leverage the visual appeal of television to communicate our rich data and analytics in an easy-to-consume manner for the consumer. With this launch, we strengthen the offering and make ourselves available at every touch point to consumers."

The channel has four partners, namely, Lotus Green, Mantri, Hiranandani and Magicbricks.

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