MH1 is the short for Music Hits One. MH1 is a music channel having an annual turnover of around Rs 70 million. Positioned behind ETC Channel Punjabi in ratings, MH1 is a music and entertainment channel promoted by Mahendra Batla under the BCI Optical Group banner. The channel has synergy as Batla has interests in music publishing business.

MH1, a two-year-old Punjabi music channel from the Lara group, has as its driver shows Aawaz Punjabi, music talent hunt show. The channel also has a popular countdown show called Total Fresh. 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 a new strategy in place for this year. With just three 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. 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`, a talent hunt programme, has also been responsible for such decisions. In fact, they have been getting constant responses and requests to begin such events across the border for the Punjabi community, which they shall be doing shortly; hence, the decision to enter these markets was taken. MH1 is amply visible in Pakistan and UAE through various cable networks. The channel focuses on music and entertainment for the foraying abroad. The programming mix is balanced in line with Indian heritage, which is what most of the NRI community looks for, and a feel of modernity for the younger generation. MH1 adopted a long-term strategy, which has paid off as far as advertising is concerned. 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.