Ranchi, June 27: Small though it may appear, the state capital seems to be attracting several satellite television news channels and newspapers.

Some news channels have already come up in the past few months while few are on the anvil.

Jharkhand TV, PBL Nazar, Taaza TV (a Calcutta-based venture) are currently being aired in the state capital. Sources said filmmaker Prakash Jha also has plans to start Mahua TV in Ranchi. Similarly, Ganga TV (a Bhojpuri channel), Hamar TV, 365 Din TV, Jagriti TV, Paini Nazar, Raftar News and Kitab Television will be launched soon.

They are now busy setting up the infrastructure before they go on air.

“Starting news channels has become a trend now. And Ranchi being the capital of a mineral rich state has a lot of potential to support news channels,” said Balram Singh, the owner of Jharkhand TV.

Originally a builder by profession, Singh launched the satellite channel two years ago, a venture that is comfortably placed now. Singh said that several people have earned a good amount of money by investing in the channel. He, however, said investing money in the media is not “lucrative” at all times, as returns are usually slow.

To start a television channel one would require an investment of at least Rs 25 lakh. But if one wants the best of technology, the owner would have to shell out at least Rs 1 crore.

Sample this: An outdoor van — a must for live news telecast — costs close to Rs 80 lakh itself.

Sources in the news channel said owners are banking on the growing consumerism to generate revenue. They added owners are not in hurry to earn a large amount in a short time, as they know industrialisation would create a huge advertising market for them.

“New shopping malls, educational institutions, hotels and restaurants are coming up in the state. Those who have either started news channels or planning to set up one are eyeing on this market for revenue earning,” said a news channel owner, on condition of anonymity.

He added that as several multinational companies have lined up to come to Jharkhand, the owners are preparing themselves to cash on the opportunity.

Newspapers and magazines are doing good business, too. Apart from Jharkhand Newslines, a Hindi daily owned by Congress MP Sushila Kerketta and Social Audit Heritage owned by Televenture and Media Pvt Limited, recently Health 365 Din was launched. The company also has a plan to launch a health channel soon.