Midlands Asian Television

MATV

Ownership
Owner	Vinod Popat

MATV is a specialist Asian content TV channel based in Leicester, England featuring Indian programming in Hindi, English, Gujarati and Punjabi. These shows are primarily local based and produced at the Comebine House, Woodboy Street studio. The channel was also affiliated with India's SAB TV. However, the channel was taken over in India, and the UK branch of SAB TV (located in London) is now known as MATV National. Its owner is Vinod Popat.

MATV Channel 6

MATV Channel 6 broadcasts in Leicester, United Kingdom on UHF Channel 68 (frequency 847.25 MHz - Horizontally polarised). The Channel is also available on Virgin Media's cable network in the Leicester area. der

The channel claims a potential audience of around 180000 homes[1], and provides a range of programming; although like many RSL television channels some of its nightly output is Sky News and Teleshopping.

The majority of programmes are based locally such as news show Leicestershire In Focus and coverage of religious events in the city such as the Diwali celebrations on Belgrave Road and Melton Road (also know as the Golden Mile) which are the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India and Vaisakhi's Nagan Kirtan.

Reception for the channel is quite poor even quite close to the studio, people as close as a 3 mile radius had to get their aerials realigned to gain the channel and some people still do not receive the channel unless they use other means such as satellite (SKY) for MATV National or cable (NTL) for MATV Channel 6.

MATV launched the career of Mayur Bhanji, who spent work experience there in 2003. Known as one of the most promising young sports journalists in the country, he currently appears on BBC Asian Network's Saturday Soccer as a reporter, alongside the main presenter Roann Ghosh.

MATV also embarked upon other ventures to expand and integrate itself in Leicestershire. Proposals of a television show were put forward to a consortium from Leicester City FC, and serious talks were held. The show would work on a similar basis to Manchester United's 'MUTV', where it would be able to gain further access into the football club for pre and post match interviews, behind the scene rushes and fan forums. 'FOX TV' as it would be known, was the brainchild of both Vinod Popat and Arvind Audit, with the current LIF presenter at the time Mark Adams, fronting the show. Indeed a pilot was made and is still housed in the MATV vaults, but to date no show was actually commissioned.

MATV National

MATV broadcasts on SKY Digital channel 793 and Virgin Media cable channel 823.

Formerly the UK arm of India's SAB TV.

Current Programmes

• Aaj Kaal
• Gurjarati Live Talk
• Hum Sab Saath Saath
• London Eye to Mumbai
• Legal Solution
• Leicestershire In Focus (MATV Channel 6 Only, Leicester; 1999 - 2007)
• MATV Live Talk
• Manoranjan
• Munda South Hall Da
• Punjabian De Balle Balle

Programming Archive

• Aaj Kaal
• BG Show
• Bollywood Beats
• Carvan Neeta Ke Sang
• Desh Pardesh (Hindi News)
• Ek Mulakat
• Funkar with Farzana
• Ganesha Speaks
• Gurdhama De Yatra
• Gurjar Ras
• Gurjarati Live Talk
• Hum Sab Saath Saath
• Husn Punjab Da
• Karz Ki Baatein
• Legal Solution
• Leicestershire In Focus (MATV Channel 6 Only, Leicester; 1999 - 2007)
• Lets Talk
• Lok Virsa
• Lok Virsa GNG Special
• MATV Live Talk
• Manoranjan
• Munda South Hall Da
• Navatri Special
• Punjabi Live Talk
• Nanakshai (Deena Sikha De)
• Punjabian De Balle Balle
• Punjabi Beats
• Punjabi Fusion
• Saheli
• Sanjha Punjab
• Shreemad Bhagwat Katha
• Sports Asia
• Your Business
• Your Health
• Urban Vibes

Presenters

• Daljit Neer
• Harjap Singh Bhangal
• Kamal Kishoreji
• Major Sandhu
• Maya Vansia
• Nilesh N. Shukla
• Rajendra Brahmabhatt
• Sandi Sidhu
• Sundip Meghani
• Shingara Singh
• Vimal Joshi (popularly known as Kathiyawadi Kakka/Karsan Kakka)

Ex Presenters

• Alam Khalil-Khan
• Baja
• Birju Soni
• Binati Gataure
• Charlotte Cooke
• Christopher Chohan
• Farzana Akhtar
• Hindpal Singh
• Josh Ramji
• Joshna Chavda
• Katherine Walton
• Katie Rowlett
• Keith Ruffles
• Kishore Jain
• Kishor Tailor
• Letitia Valentine
• Mandeep
• Mark Adams
• Melissa Parma
• Navneet 'Neeta' Rajput
• Prakash Mandhania
• Rani Mahal
• Renu Jain
• Roopinder Kaur
• Satish Visavadia
• Shashi Rana
• Simone Swift
• Sunny Sandhu
• Sukhjeet Kaur Dosanjh