A new deal forged by independent Canadian broadcaster Channel Zero will see 24-hour South Asian children’s channel Halla Bol! Kids TV become the first channel in the Hindi-language kids category on US pay-TV provider DISH Network this summer.

Operated by Channel Zero World Media, Halla Bol! Kids TV is now available exclusively to DISH World subscribers and DISH satellite-TV subscribers. The channel was previously only offered in Canada by Bell Fibe.

Halla Bol! Kids TV targets children ages two to 10 and families with a mix of programming in Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi, including popular children’s shows Galli Galli Sim Sim (the Hindi-language adaptation of Sesame Street), Amar Chitra Katha and The New Adventures of Hanuman.

In addition, a library of children’s films is offered along with hit mainstream series such as Johnny Test, Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, Meteor And Mighty Monster Trucks, and World Of Q.

The deal comes as demand for ethnic programming in North America continues to rise. In related news, online bilingual channel Oznoz recently formed a partnership with HIT Entertainment to make its preschool content available across North America in Hindi, Mandarin, Arabic, German, Russian and Korean languages.