Below is the list of current satellite television channels in Kannada language, a Dravidian language widely spoken in the South Indian state of Karnataka. Apart from those in the below list, many other Kannada channels exist that are limited to certain cities or districts, run by local cable TV operators. __NOTOC__
State government-owned channel ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesDD Chandana1994SD 2.0Doordarshan, Prasar BharatiOfficial channel of the State Government of Karnataka
General entertainment ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesSun Udaya1994SD+HDStereo | 2.0Sun TV NetworkFirst Kannada satellite channel to go on air Launched as Udaya TV, re-branded in March 2026Colors Kannada2000JioStar (formerly ETV Network)Launched as ETV Kannada, re-branded in March 2015Zee Kannada2006Zee Entertainment EnterprisesFirst mainstream satellite channel in Kannada.Star Suvarna2007Asianet Star Communications, a subsidiary of JioStar (formerly Star India)Launched as Suvarna; re-branded as Star Suvarna in July 2016Colors Super2016SDJioStarSecond Kannada GEC from Viacom 18; launched in July 2016Zee Power2020SD+HDZee Entertainment EnterprisesReplaced Zee Picchar On 23 Aug 2025
Defunct entertainment channels ChannelLaunchDefunctVideoAudioOwnerNotesKasthuri TV20072023SDStereo | 2.0Kasthuri Medias Pvt ltdKasthuri TV is the first Kannada family entertainment TV channel in Kannada, promoted by a Kannadiga.Kalki Kannada20152017White Horse Network Services24X7 GEC channel in Kannada
Movies ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesUdaya Movies2000SDStereo | 2.0Sun TV NetworkFormerly known as Ushe TV. First movie channel in Kannada. Star Suvarna Plus2013JioStarSecond Kannada GEC from Asianet; known as Suvarna Plus until July 2016Colors Kannada Cinema2018First regional movie channel from Viacom 18Public MoviesWritemen MediaThird channel from Writemen Media
Defunct movie channels ChannelLaunchDefunctVideoAudioOwnerNotesZee Picchar20202025SD 2.0Zee Entertainment Enterprises24x7 Kannada movie channel from Zee Entertainment Enterprises
Music ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerHeadquartersNotesUdaya Music2006SDStereo | 2.0Sun TV NetworkChennai, Tamil NaduFormerly known as Udaya 2 / U2Raj Musix Kannada2009Raj Television NetworkFirst venture from Raj Television in KannadaPublic Music2014Writemen MediaBengaluru, KarnatakaSecond venture from the company after Public TV
Comedy ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesUdaya Comedy2009SD 2.0Sun TV NetworkLaunched initially as Sun Direct exclusive channel
Kids ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesChintu TV2009SDStereo | 2.0Sun TV NetworkLaunched initially as Sun Direct exclusive channelNickelodeon2018JioStarKannada feed was launched in September 2018Nickelodeon SonicDiscovery Kids2019Warner Bros. Discovery IndiaKannada feed was launched in 2019ETV Bal Bharat2021ETV Networklaunched in April 2021Sony YaySony Pictures Networks IndiaKannada feed was launched in 2021Pogo2022Warner Bros. Discovery IndiaKannada feed was launched in 2022Cartoon Network2023Warner Bros. Discovery IndiaKannada feed was launched in 2023
Infotainment & lifestyle ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesSaral Jeevan2016SDStereo | 2.0CG Parivar Global VisionClaimed to be first Kannada infotainment channelAyush TV2017Kamadhenu TelefilmsClaimed to be Kannada's first wellness and lifestyle channelDiscovery Channel2019Warner Bros. Discovery IndiaKannada feed was launched in 2019National Geographic2021JioStarKannada feed was launched in 2021
Spiritual ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesSri Sankara TV2008SDStereo | 2.0Kamadhenu TelefilmsHindu devotional channel with Kannada & Tamil feedSri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel 2Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams TrustHindu devotional channel with Kannada & Tamil feed
Sports ChannelGenreLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesStar Sports 1 KannadaSports2018SDStereo | 2.0JioStarFirst sports channel in Kannada; launched on 29 December 2018Star Sports 2 KannadaReplaced Star Sports First on 15 March 2025.
News
ChannelLaunchVideoAudioOwnerNotesTV9 Kannada2006SDStereo | 2.0ABCL BroadcastingFirst 24X7 news channel in KannadaAsianet Suvarna News2008Asianet News NetworkKnown as Suvarna News 24X7 until January 2016Kasthuri News 242011Kasthuri Medias Pvt ltdSecond venture from the company Kasthuri Medias after Kasthuri TVPublic TV2012Writemen MediaFirst channel from Writemen MediaBTV News2014Eaglesight Telemedia and Btvkannada Pvt LtdNews 18 KannadaETV Network & Network 18Known as ETV News Kannada until September 2017Raj News KannadaRaj Television NetworkSecond venture from the company after Raj Musix KannadaPrajaa TV Kannada2015Samparka InfomediaRepublic Kannada2017Republic Media Network(Formerly VRL Media)Formerly Digvijaya news 24×7TV5 KannadaRana BroadcastingKannada channel from TV5 groupPower TV2018Powersmart Media(OPC)News 1st2020Olecom MediaVistara News2022Vistara Media Private LimitedVistara News was launched in November 2022Zee Kannada News2023Zee MediaLaunched on 10 April 2023 (as a TV channel)
Defunct news channels ChannelLaunchDefunctVideoAudioOwnerNotesUdaya News20002019SDStereo | 2.0Sun TV NetworkFirst Kannada news channel; was also known as Udaya VarthegaluSamaya News20102018RSM BroadcastersKnown as Samaya 24X7 until 2013Janasri News2011Yash Broadcasting IndustriesNewsX Kannada20182019ITV NetworkFirst regional venture for South India by ITV Network
High-definition
There are currently four High-Definition channels in Kannada.
ChannelGenreLaunchBroadcastVideoAudioOwnerColors Kannada HDGEC3 May 2016Own scheduleFull HD 2.0JioStarUdaya TV HD6 March 2017Simulcast 5.1Sun NetworkStar Suvarna HD16 July 2017Own schedule 7.1JioStarZee Kannada HD3 November 2018Own schedule 2.0Zee Entertainment Enterprises
See also
Media in Karnataka List of Kannada films List of Kannada magazines List of Kannada newspapers List of Kannada radio stations Lists of television stations in India Lists of global television channels
References