Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : India Coffee House -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mohan Marette who wrote (9619)	11/17/1999 1:59:00 AM
From: Mohan Marette	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12475

Star India readies expansion plan, mulls public issue startv.com startv.com (Wednesday, November 17, 1999) Anjan Mitra in New Delhi(bs) Star TV has drawn up the blueprint for a multi-pronged expansion strategy in India. This includes forays into satellite and FM radio broadcasting, a joint venture for film production through a non-broadcasting company and regional language news. As part of the gameplan, Star TV is looking at restructuring its setup to give more autonomy to the Indian operations. It also plans to raise its investments in India from the next fiscal. Star TV is also studying the feasibility of taking the Indian entity public after about a year, following the restructuring. An increasing number of media companies in India are going public, including TV-18, UTV and Shri Adhikari Brothers. For now, Star has also decided to continue its relationship with NDTV for Star News and may use its existing infrastructure for starting regional language news. "We are exploring how we can be a player in the satellite radio and FM radio (sectors). We can be content providers with our music-related products to any of the FM channel operators," Star TV India?s chief executive Peter Mukerjea told Business Standard. Star TV had experimented with a satellite radio project a few years back before discontinuing it. In the UK, NewsCorp has a venture called Sky Radio. Being a content provider for FM channel operators makes sense as Star TV can readily whip up a package from its stable of music-related programmes. The company?s TV music channels include Channel V and Channel V International. Star TV is also holding talks with big players in the Indian film industry for a joint film production venture. "As and when we get into film production it would be through a joint venture and a non-broadcasting company," Mukerjea said. Since Hong Kong-headquartered Star TV is a broadcasting company, some corporate restructuring would have to be done. Most importantly, Star is working at a structure which would give more autonomy to Star TV India vis-a-vis the revenue it generates and its share from the central kitty for investments.