MH1, short for Music Hits One, is a popular music and entertainment channel with most of its viewers in Delhi and North India. The channel is promoted by Mahendra Batla under the BCI Optical Group banner. The channel has synergy, as Batla has interests in music publishing business. MH1, a Punjabi music channel from the Lara group, has as its driver shows Aawaz Punjabi Di, music talent hunt show. The channel utilises various satellites like INSAT 4A and 4B, Thaicom 5 and Anik F3.
Programmes of MH1
MH1 has a popular countdown show called Total Fresh and a highly popular talent hunt based musical reality show called, Aawaz Punjabi Di. Other top performers for the channel include Fundoo Five, You Are Welcome Ji and Ghuggi Online. The channel, which has been going slow on events, has adopted a new strategy in place for this year. With just 3 events last year, this year the channel plans to do one event every two months. The channel, which primarily competes with Zee Punjabi and Balle Balle, planned to foray into the UK, US and Canada by the end of March 2006.
Development of MH1
The success of the channel in the well-defined Punjab market created much interest in the NRI market and also a constant demand from the Punjabi community visiting India to show the same channel overseas. The success of their popular programme, Awaaz Punjab Di, has also been responsible for such decisions. The Punjabi music channel is also contemplating to start a Hindi music and entertainment channel. After the success of the regional channel, it is imperative that one must get into the national scene in order to be a serious player.
MH1 also plans to introduce a medical channel. The MH1, the company`s maiden venture, would be linked from India. The channel would primarily cater to Punjab. The channel would be beamed through the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) whose latest equipment enable it to be received in the best of audio and visual quality through dish antennas.
MH1 is amply visible in Pakistan and UAE through various cable networks. The channel focuses on music and entertainment for the foraying abroad.