BRIEFINGS: Star TV gears up for local content

<p>Star TV and MediaCorp Studios of Singapore will jointly produce a </p><p>multi-million dollar hip action drama series, called Virtual Drifters, </p><p>for Chinese audiences. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The satellite broadcaster has also signed a five-year output licence </p><p>agreement with Media Asia Group to secure exclusive movie broadcasting </p><p>rights. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In addition, Star TV has signed up for programming rights with Hong </p><p>Kong-based content producer China Star Entertainment Group, to acquire </p><p>exclusive TV broadcast rights to 100 China Star movie productions. The </p><p>three-year multimillion dollar programming pact will give Star TV </p><p>exclusive video-on-demand, pay-per-view and pay-TV rights to 100 </p><p>Mandarin and Cantonese programmes produced by China Star. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In India, News Corporation has invested in the leading technology </p><p>portal, Itspace.com, taking a 15 per cent stake in the company. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In partnership with World Sport Group, News Corporation has won the </p><p>telecast, sponsorship and Internet rights for all the cricket events </p><p>organised and owned by the International Cricket Council for the next </p><p>seven years. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Star TV has also taken stakes of 20 per cent and 15 per cent </p><p>respectively in Internet companies indiaproperties.com and eGurucool.com </p><p>in India. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Meanwhile, Star Movies has concluded a nine-picture deal with Hollywood </p><p>motion picture studio DreamWorks SKG to broadcast exclusively in India </p><p>and Pakistan. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>