NX Media is poised to launch their flagship television channels -  India’s popular Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) 9X, along with the country's No 1 Music Entertainment Channel 9XM - in the Middle East.

The company has appointed Dubai-based media company Media Solutions to spearhead its push into the GCC and other Middle Eastern countries. Media Solutions is headed by Altaf Alimohamed, who until very recently was executive vice-president of STAR TV based in Dubai.

Media Solutions is a Boutique Media Consultancy business based in Dubai’s Media City and is well known for its ability to provide creative but practical business solutions to the Television Broadcasting industry.

“I am extremely proud to be working with Altaf. He is one of the most professional and knowledgeable television executives across the entire Middle East, and I know this first hand from my days at Star when Altaf was running the Middle East region.  I am confident that Altaf and Media Solutions will help us take the popular programming of 9X and 9XM to millions of TV viewers in the Middle East," said chairman and chief strategy officer, INX Media, Peter Mukerjea.

“We are delighted to partner with INX Media for the launch of their popular channels 9X and 9XM. INX Media has made a huge impact in the Indian television industry in a very short span of time, and both 9X and 9XM provide contemporary and world-class entertainment. I am confident we can replicate the immense success they have had in India, in the Middle East and beyond," said Alimohamed.

In India, the launch of 9X has been the most successful TV channel launch in the recent past. Among GECs launched in 2007-08, 9X is the only channel to have achieved an unprecedented and consistent growth within six months of its launch, and has reached a high of 76 million viewers in a single week.

The channel’s steady growth in ratings and its excellent performance is being seen as a milestone on the channel’s road to industry leadership. Significantly, 9X has achieved these excellent ratings with some hours of primetime programming yet to launch by the end of September 08.

Among the new shows planned are Mahaabhaarat, which will feature some of the biggest Indian stars in the greatest drama ever, and will be launched on August 15, plus the mega reality talent hunt, Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket, which will be launched in July. – TradeArabia News Service