Press Releases - Media Centre
STAR and Balaji Telefilms Announce Joint Venture to Launch Regional Language General Entertainment Channels in India
Mumbai / Hong Kong, April 19, 2007
STAR Group Ltd. (STAR) and Balaji Telefilms Ltd. (Balaji) today announced a joint venture to create a leading television network of regional language general entertainment channels initially targeted at the fast growing South India market. The joint venture, 51% owned by STAR and 49% by Balaji, will be headquartered in Chennai.
Under the joint venture, the two companies will combine their resources to infuse VIJAY with Balaji content. The joint venture also targets at launching a Telugu channel by the last quarter of the year. Channels in Kannada, Malayalam and other key regional languages will be launched within the next two to three years.
STAR, the leading television network in the Hindi market, will be responsible for the operations of the joint venture channels. Balaji, which has been creating top-rated shows in various languages for the past eight years, will produce regional language shows exclusively for the joint venture.
Paul Aiello, Chief Executive Officer of STAR said, "We are thrilled with today’s announcement as it marks an important step in the acceleration of our expansion in the regional markets. Balaji is a production powerhouse in the country with incredible accomplishments in producing top-rated shows. This new partnership agreement allows us to tap into its regional language production capability and have immediate access to a wealth of programming that is compelling and relevant to the viewer. I believe we have forged the perfect partnership to expand into these fast growing and important markets.”
Mr. Jeetendra Kapoor, Chairman, Balaji Telefilms Ltd. said, "We are excited about this opportunity to strengthen our relationship with STAR. We believe that combining the expertise and resources of the two companies will enable us to create the leading regional language TV network in the country. This new partnership also helps realise our ambitions to go upstream by taking a stake in the broadcast business. I am confident that our investment in this joint venture will generate significant value for our stakeholders."
About Balaji:
Balaji Telefilms Limited is one of the most successful media companies and the largest fiction based television content provider in India. The Company is primarily engaged in the production of television software in Hindi, Telegu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. Balaji Telefilms Limited has been promoted by actors Jeetendra Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor and has produced to its credit many successful serials, including Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahanni Ghar Ghar Ki, Kusumm, Kasauti, Zindagi Kay, Hum Paanch (all in Hindi), Pavitrabandhanam, Kalisundar Ra (Telugu), Kulla Villaku (Tamil), Kavyanjali (Malayalam). Balaji Telefilms Limited has a large content library and its programmes have consistently appeared in the top 50 programmes on all major television channels. The Company’s vision is to emerge as a complete media house covering the widest genres of television programmes. For more information about Balaji Telefilms Limited, please visit www.balajitelefilms.com.
About STAR:
STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 60 television services in nine languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel). STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world's largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems, direct-to-home services, terrestrial TV broadcasting, wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com
For further information please contact:
Mumbai / Hong Kong, April 19, 2007
STAR Group Ltd. (STAR) and Balaji Telefilms Ltd. (Balaji) today announced a joint venture to create a leading television network of regional language general entertainment channels initially targeted at the fast growing South India market. The joint venture, 51% owned by STAR and 49% by Balaji, will be headquartered in Chennai.
Under the joint venture, the two companies will combine their resources to infuse VIJAY with Balaji content. The joint venture also targets at launching a Telugu channel by the last quarter of the year. Channels in Kannada, Malayalam and other key regional languages will be launched within the next two to three years.
STAR, the leading television network in the Hindi market, will be responsible for the operations of the joint venture channels. Balaji, which has been creating top-rated shows in various languages for the past eight years, will produce regional language shows exclusively for the joint venture.
Paul Aiello, Chief Executive Officer of STAR said, "We are thrilled with today’s announcement as it marks an important step in the acceleration of our expansion in the regional markets. Balaji is a production powerhouse in the country with incredible accomplishments in producing top-rated shows. This new partnership agreement allows us to tap into its regional language production capability and have immediate access to a wealth of programming that is compelling and relevant to the viewer. I believe we have forged the perfect partnership to expand into these fast growing and important markets.”
Mr. Jeetendra Kapoor, Chairman, Balaji Telefilms Ltd. said, "We are excited about this opportunity to strengthen our relationship with STAR. We believe that combining the expertise and resources of the two companies will enable us to create the leading regional language TV network in the country. This new partnership also helps realise our ambitions to go upstream by taking a stake in the broadcast business. I am confident that our investment in this joint venture will generate significant value for our stakeholders."
About Balaji:
Balaji Telefilms Limited is one of the most successful media companies and the largest fiction based television content provider in India. The Company is primarily engaged in the production of television software in Hindi, Telegu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. Balaji Telefilms Limited has been promoted by actors Jeetendra Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor and has produced to its credit many successful serials, including Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kahanni Ghar Ghar Ki, Kusumm, Kasauti, Zindagi Kay, Hum Paanch (all in Hindi), Pavitrabandhanam, Kalisundar Ra (Telugu), Kulla Villaku (Tamil), Kavyanjali (Malayalam). Balaji Telefilms Limited has a large content library and its programmes have consistently appeared in the top 50 programmes on all major television channels. The Company’s vision is to emerge as a complete media house covering the widest genres of television programmes. For more information about Balaji Telefilms Limited, please visit www.balajitelefilms.com.
About STAR:
STAR is a leading media and entertainment company in Asia. STAR broadcasts over 60 television services in nine languages to more than 300 million viewers across 53 Asian countries. STAR channels cover all genres including general entertainment (Star Plus, Xing Kong, Star Chinese Channel, Star One, Star Utsav, Star World, Vijay, Phoenix Chinese), sports (ESPN, Star Sports), movies (Star Chinese Movies, Star Gold, Star Movies), music (Channel [V]), and news and current affairs (Star News, Star Ananda, Phoenix InfoNews Channel). STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world's largest contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems, direct-to-home services, terrestrial TV broadcasting, wireless and digital services. STAR is a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation. www.startv.com
For further information please contact:
Add: Balaji Telefilms Ltd
R. Karthik
CEO
Tel: +91 22 40698000
Email: karthik@balajitelefilms.com
Add: STAR Group Ltd.
Jannie Poon
Corporate Affairs & Communications
Tel: +852 2621 8619
Email: janniep@startv.com
Add: STAR Group Ltd.
Yash Khanna
Corporate Affairs & Communications
Tel: +91 22 66305509
Email: yashk@in.startv.com
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