-- Web18 has launched a Hindi language news and entertainment portal called Josh18. The site features news content sourced from Network18’s two Hindi TV channels - CNBC Awaaz and IBN7, lifestyle content at Nayee Zindagi, Hindi literature content at Kitaabi Dunia and a humour section.

What caught my attention is hindi blog titled Garam Chai (literally - Hot Tea), strangely hosted at http://hindi.moneycontrol.com. It appears to be an old initiative, with archives starting from June 2006. A couple of things - What’s the point of having an English based search for a Hindi content portal? Or, for that matter, videos that load automatically in the sidebar, given that connectivity in India isn’t all that great? The content or the interface isn’t particularly great either - much more watered down than their other content portals. So how many more segments for Web18 to add in order to build up valuation before an IPO?

-- Web18 has revamped its cricket portal - CricketNext - for the second time this year. Rajneesh Chopra, GM Marketing for Web18 tells me that the redesign has made content more accessible; apart from this, they have also increased the scope of their coverage, providing live coverage from the ground (ala Cricinfo). CricketNext has revamped Stats Genie, and added more content with columns from former cricketer Sandeep Patil and commentator Dr. Narottam Puri. They’ve gone mobile using the Network18 short code 52622, and voice portal 505 2622. Chopra also claims a reduced ads-to-content ratio for CricketNext...though I don’t quite buy that. CricketNext, like ibnlive and moneycontrol, also an overdose of soshkeles that disrupt the user experience.

Disclaimer: I own in inconsequential number of shares of Network18