VisionTV is strengthening its bid to capture South Asian audiences, while the CBC just marked a first by broadcasting hockey online in Mandarin, Hindi and Cantonese.

Starting on March 1, Vision is revamping its Saturday schedule and rebranding it as Desi Vision. VisionTV has until now devoted its Saturday programming to Sikh, Hindu and Muslim Canadians, and is now introducing weekly Bollywood feature films and the magazine series Bollywood Gupshup to cast a wider net for South Asian audiences. Meanwhile, the channel has moved mainstays such as Des Pardes and Aikam to primetime. The changes will be followed by a print and outdoor ad campaign promoting Desi Vision.

Vision COO and SVP programming Mark Prasuhn says the decision to enhance the Saturday lineup ‘is a sign of our continued commitment to this fast-growing community.’ South Asian Canadians represent one of the country’s largest visible minorities, with a population that is expected to approach two million by 2017.

Meanwhile, the CBC made select games of its annual Hockey Day in Canada extravaganza available online in Mandarin, Hindi and Cantonese at cbcsports.ca. CBC Sports director of production Joel Darling says the initiative is part of the net’s reaching out to new audiences, while the web ‘provides us with an ideal platform to provide additional language options.’

The eighth annual hockey broadcast celebration, sponsored by Tim Hortons, took place Saturday, with Ron MacLean hosting from the Winkler Recreation Complex in Winkler, MB.