TLN Telelatino and PrideVision are branching out with new digital channels for their respective core audiences.

TLN Telelatino looks to be fortifying its place in the market by launching three new digis, all catering to Italian Canadians, all programmed with a mix of domestic and Italian-made shows. The Toronto-based cable outfit will launch an Italian-language music channel, a lifestyle and a 24-hour news channel in November.

‘These new channels will complement the thousands of hours of general-entertainment, Italian-language programming now available on TLN,’ and are part of larger expansion efforts, says president Aldo Di Felice.

The channels may also protect Telelatino against Italy’s RAI. The Italian broadcaster made a failed run at the Canadian market earlier this year, getting turned down by the CRTC on the grounds that it would compete with Telelatino. The decision was extremely unpopular, however, and RAI is expected by some to get a second chance.

Meanwhile, PrideVision TV has gone hard-core. The gay-aimed and ratings-impaired channel announced plans last month to ‘evolve’ into a 24/7 adult channel and, as a prelude, is now running porn from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days a week. A second, non-porn digichannel will be launched in January and will carry many of the shows previously seen on PrideVision.

-www.tlntv.com

-www.pridevision.com