Raghav Bahl of Television Eighteen and Rajeep Sardesai, who set up his own company Global Broadcast News [Get Quote] Pvt Limited, have launched their joint venture with CNN called CNN-IBN channel on Saturday, a day ahead of its  scheduled launch.

The general news channel, headed by Rajdeep Sardesai, will be available for cable and satellite television viewers across the country.

A formal launch party for the new television channel is likely to be held in the first week of January in New Delhi where top journalists from the CNN -- including Larry King -- are likely to be present.

"We have put in a monitoring mechanism to see how the channel is doing across the country. I promised to launch the channel in the last quarter of 2005 and we have done so," Rajdeep told rediff.com.

In Delhi, the channel could be seen in places like Saket, Greater Kailash, Green Park through the city cable network. Likewise in Mumbai it can be seen in some suburbs.

CNN-IBN has hired 350 employees, including 50 journalists. Amongst those who have switched over their jobs to work with Rajdeep includes Suhasni Haidar who was working with CNN's Delhi bureau.

Sagarika Ghose, Rajdeep's wife, is the feature's editor of the new setup.

Bhupendra Chobey, who decided to shift from New Delhi Television [Get Quote] with his mentor Rajdeep, has been given the designation of chief political correspondent.

Surya Gangadharan has been named diplomatic editor.

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