Star TV has decided to defer its plan to start a direct-to-home,
pay-TV platform in Hong Kong.
The immediate company focus will be in providing content services in the
liberalised Hong Kong market, leveraging the significant programming
assets Star has amassed over the last year.
The company is open to a licence application in the future, as the Hong
Kong government has indicated that fresh applications for a pay-TV
licence can be considered at any time.
A statement issued by the regional broadcaster said Star remains "fully
committed to Hong Kong, and to the deployment of multi-services digital
television across the Asia Pacific region".
Meanwhile, Star has opened a representative office in Shanghai, the
first regional broadcaster to do so.
"The establishment of a representative office signifies an important
recognition of our full commitment to China's broadcasting and
telecommunications industries," said Star chairman and CEO James
Murdoch.
"This comes at a particularly timely moment with China's impending entry
to the WTO, which we believe will foster unprecedented growth in these
two sectors."
Star programming is currently distributed under a wide range of
syndication and affiliate arrangements as well as on a whole channel
basis, under the current Chinese government policy.
Meanwhile, Star has launched Indian channels Star Plus and Star News on
BskyB in the UK, with the aim of serving the 1.5 million Indian and
Asian ethnic people in the country.
Star Plus is a Hindi entertainment channel and Star News offers 24-hour
Indian news services.
"By partnering with BSkyB, we are enabling Indian and Asian communities
in the UK to enjoy the entertainment and news that their fellow
countrymen see everyday back home," said Star India chief executive
Peter Mukerjea.
In Hong Kong, Star TV had secured exclusive broadcast rights to carry
movies starring Andy Lau in the next five years.
