This is the first Kannada satellite channel from the Sun network which is now one of the widely viewed channel. It was started as the complete entertainment channel with prime time news bulletines.
Compared to other current satellite channels udaya is miles ahead in technology ably supported by Sun network but from programming point of view the same cannot be told. Most of the serials are from the Balaji factory which are either made simultaneously in different languages or remade from other langauge channels. There is absolutely no uniqueness having quality of the same old hit formula ’K’ kind serials aired in different channels.
Udaya thinks entertainment means only cinema based programmes so progrmmes in the form of live shows...top ten songs ...viewer choice etc., News programmes are also not upto the mark. They are just news collection and reading. Only the current affair talk shows by a former Lankesh patrike journalist ( forgotten her name) is the silver lining.
As being the first it has the advantage of leading, many other satellite entertainment channels entered into the competetion but failed due to lack of good programmes and funding, Suprabhatha from a marathi group and Kaveri from Zee and Asianet joint venture to name.
Recently ETV Kannada channel promoted by Eenadu group is trying to give a tough competetion to Udaya. It did succeed to some extent by producing some very good sops such as Manvantha, Grihabhanga which are much much better than all the udaya programmes. But ETV lacks the technology and experience Udaya has got.
Its comedy serial papa pandu was a huge success which prompted udaya to intoduce similar kind of serials although its earlier comedy Dandapindagalu was a success due to its catchy title song. If ETV succeeds in catering complete and qualty entertainment package defenitely it can give a tough fight to Udaya. Also Udaya has Ushe, a film songs and movie based channel and Udaya news channel with alternative Kannada/English news.