| Metro Gold | |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 8, 2000 |
| Closed | October 21, 2003 |
| Owned by | Doordarshan & Nine Network |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, Delhi, India,
country = India |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Analogue | VHF band |
Metro Gold also known as 9 Gold was a Hindi language terrestrial television channel in India. The channel was a joint venture of both DD Metro & Nine Gold of Kerry Packer's HFCL - Nine Broadcasting India; hence known as Metro Gold. During its first launch, the channel was more likely known as DD Metro channel's "primetime block" from 7pm - 10pm IST, where it will show its programmes only in the given 3 hours span on DD Metro Channel. But, when the programmes started becoming popular in the primetime slot, DD Metro tried to set up some realistic terms with Nine Gold, which created disagreement between the companies and led up the channel to shut.[1]
Metro Gold's programming was targeted towards family audiences. The programming covered genres including drama, comedy, horror, and live events. Some of its most successful programmes to date include Kundali, Kavita, Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Sahelii, and Chonch Ladi Re Chonch.[2]
In addition, India's most popular production house, Balaji Telefilms of Ekta Kapoor launched their early hit shows on Metro Gold. Approximately 7% - 10% of their revenues came out of programmes that they launched on Metro Gold Channel.[3]
After Metro Gold went off-air, it signed a contract with STAR Plus, India's number 1 channel & sold-off all of their shows to the channel. STAR Plus bought the entire Nine Gold's library of programmes after signing the deal, and all of the programmes were re-aired on STAR Plus from the beginning.[4] Besides, all of Metro Gold's programmes now belong to (claim by) STAR Plus and known as theirs rather than DD Metro's, despite the fact they were aired on DD Metro channel. The reason was that HFCL - Nine Gold paid DD Metro 1.21 million rupees for the three hours of air-time on DD Metro. And they had full claim and the right to sell their programmes to anyone, and when they signed a deal with STAR Plus, DD Metro had no "say" in it.[5]
Note:Following is a list of programmes that were broadcast by Metro Gold Channel at the time it was on-air (now the programmes belong to STAR Plus channel: