Sony's 2^nd HD English movie channel coming soon

Sony Le Plex HD is designed to be a premium English movie channel to be launched in June 2016, depending on regulatory clearances. The focus of the channel is to present the movies in a manner not seen before

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | June 1, 2016

Seeing the huge scope in high definition channels, broadcasters are launching newer channels to woo customers. Sony Pictures Networks India has announced the launch of its premium English movie channel Sony Le Plex HD. The channel is slated to be launched in June, depending on clearances and approvals.

This will be the second HD English movie channel from the Sony stable, after Sony PIX HD. It is interesting to note how broadcasters first started off by launching HD channels as an extension of their existing standard definition channels. Gradually, things started changing though. Star India launched its premium English movie channel Star Movies Select HD in 2015, two years after launching its premium GEC Star World Premier HD in 2013.

Turner too had launched HBO Hits and HBO Defined in the English movie and GEC segments in January 2013, though the curtains were down on both the channels late last year. HBO Hits was converted to HBO HD, keeping the high definition offering alive. Times Network's MN+, an English movie channel, is resonating quite well with the audience.

Not just the premium English entertainment genre, the broadcasters have sensed a great promise in the high definition versions of the regional channels too. Recently, in last three months, Star India launched HD variants of its Bengali channels Star Jalsha and Star Jalsha Movies. Viacom18 announced Colors Kannada HD, Colors Marathi HD and Colors Bangla HD. ZEEL is also planning HD launches alongside its regional offerings, Zee Marathi, Zee Bangla and others.

Sony Le Pix HD is expected to serve the discerning audience who seek entertainment beyond the mainstream movies from Hollywood. It will serve avid movie viewers with films that are popular and critically acclaimed. The focus for the channel would be to present the movies in a manner not seen before.

The network has made significant investment in securing rights for movies from Hollywood and the premieres on the channel includes Spotlight (Academy Award winner for Best Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay for 2016), Ex-Machina, Foxcatcher and Straight Outta Compton to name a few. It will also be home to critically acclaimed movies like The Inglorious Basterds, Schindler's List, Taxi Driver, Gladiator and Philadelphia.

So clearly, the channel launches in SD-HD pairs is not a restriction anymore. The broadcasters are going ahead and being bold with the launches of HD only channels, while the consumer base for the high definition channels is still not significant in the country. Looks like the build-up is happening for the near future and nobody wants to miss the bus.

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com