Saam TV - Mumbai

India’s SAAM TV Marathi Channel Selects VDO for History-Making Debut

Mumbai:  When the Sakaal Group set out to launch SAAM TV Marathi, India’s first regional language channel, they needed an extraordinary graphic look for their history-making network, which debuted on August 15th.

“After watching VDO’s show reel at an exhibition in Mumbai, I knew our search for a graphic design firm was over,” said Sanjay Dabke, Channel Head - SAAM TV Marathi.

Located in western India, the state of Maharashtra is home to India’s second-largest population and a burgeoning broadcast market.  SAAM TV Marathi’s just-launched news and entertainment channel broadcasts in Marathi, the area’s primary language, and fills a rapidly-growing need for a regional television network.

“Generally, graphics packages look like they were created on computers.  But we wanted our look to be very organic, to reflect the warmth of our people,” said Dabke.  “The VDO team made every effort to understand the nuances of our culture. The freshness, the simplicity, the natural feeling we wanted…it flows in all the graphics.”

“We loved this project,” said Dianne Streyer, VP & General Manager of VDO.  “Maharashtra is  steeped in history and tradition and its people are deeply proud of their culture.  It was critical that the graphic package reflect their unique identity.”

To that end, VDO chose the lotus as the main focal point of the package, a sacred and significant symbol in Marathi culture.  The overall look is beautiful, light and airy, yet grounded – and extremely reflective of the Marathi’s people’s deep, proud roots.

“SAAM TV Marathi had a strong vision of who they were and who they wanted the station to be,” said Streyer.  “They knew exactly how they wanted to present themselves.”

“I can convincingly and candidly say that none of the other competing channels have such  youthful, vibrant, but still very simple graphics,” said Dabke.  “It has made the look of our channel richer.”