Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 (IANS): Kottayam-headquartered Mangalam group, which publishes a daily newspaper and several magazines, has said it will soon launch a TV news channel in Malayalam.

The channel will be an addition to the already crowded Malayalam TV news space with 12 private news channels in existence and in line with the trend of vernacular publications foraying into electronic media.

"We will be on air very soon. The channel's logo is to be released on March 1," R. Ajithkumar, CEO and editor in chief of the channel, told IANS.

The round-the-clock news channel would be based in Thiruvananthapuram and have bureaus in all the 14 districts of the state besides metros in the country, he said.

The group has been publishing popular Malayalam daily by the name 'Mangalam' since 1989.

Mangalam's venture is in line with the broader trend of all major vernacular print media houses in Kerala starting a TV channel too.

In print media, Mangalam has been competing with giants like Manorama and Mathrubhumi, besides Deshabhimani (CPI-M's party organ, Madhyamam and Kerala Kaumudi.

With assembly elections round the corner in Kerala, Mangalam expects to begin with a bang but will have a tough time competing for a shrinking advertising pie.