Owner of Channel D fled UAE amid losses

Dubai: A Dubai-based Malayalam TV channel named Channel D is under deep crisis as his owner has fled the United Arab Emirates leaving unpaid employees hanging.

The losses were mounting and the owner was unable to keep the channel in order.

A senior staffer at Channel D told the Gulf News on Monday: "We were not paid for months but in the hope of a turnaround, the dozen odd staffers lumbered on. Nobody expected the end to come so soon."

Though the channel is on air, its station’s office remained closed.

“They are running repeats of old shows. But even that is likely to stop when their contract with Etisalat expires this month end," he said.

Some employees were assured that their dues will be cleared.

Biometric access control was deactivated in March while telephone lines were disconnected in April.

The channel also had a unit in Kochi, Kerala, but that too has been reportedly shut down.