Big B to start his news channel

The buzz is that after blogging against TV channels and the media on BigAdda.com apparently the Big B is crossing over and now wants to bring out a news channel. An industry source says, "Apparently, Amitabh Bachchan is starting a news channel called India 24/7 and the preparations for starting it, is on in full swing. It is being planned in collaboration with a big corporate house. Of course, right now nobody wants to confirm anything and everything is hush-hush."

The source continues, "The idea for Amitabh Bachchan launching a new channel came while he was shooting for Ram Gopal Varma's Rann. Bachchan plays Harshvardhan Malik, the owner of a TV channel in the film. When Ramu and Bachchan were discussing the script in the initial stages, it was Bachchan's idea that Ramu name his channel, India 24/7. Now the channel which Bachchan is apparently planning to launch is also called India 24/7. That can hardly be a co-incidence."

The source feels that for Bachchan to launch an electronic channel is the logical conclusion after his blog. "Blogs have limited reader appeal and interest peters out after a few months though Bachchan still gets a huge response commensurate to his stature. The modalities are currently being worked out. Ideally, the launch of the channel should have been during the elections but now that looks impossible.

With the elections coming up a TV channel would have been the right medium for someone of Bachchan's persona and credibility to get his point of view across." However when contacted Amitabh Bachchan denies the story that he's bringing out a TV channel. He says, "It's not true."

Harshvardhan Malik (Bachchan) is the founder of the first-ever private news channel in the country, India 24/7. The Harvard-educated Malik is India's most respected media personality and also a hardcore upholder of journalistic ethics.

It is because of his ethics and refusal to compromise on them that today his channel is battling for survival! Amitabh Bachchan's blog will complete its first anniversary on April 16 this year. elebrating the occasion, BigAdda has announced a special contest for his fans. The winner will have lunch with Bachchan.