FYI 09.17.08

News Corp.'s Star Group subsidiary in Hong Kong has formed a joint venture with Twentieth Century Fox, named Fox Star Studios, to produce local-language films in Asia for worldwide distribution. The joint venture will make its first foray in India, "completing the missing piece in Star India's entertainment portfolio," said Star India CEO Uday Shankar in Mumbai. Fox Star Studios will produce Bollywood and Indian regional films under the management of CEO Vijay Singh in Mumbai, who is currently president, strategy and corporate development at Star India. It will also build a national theatrical distribution footprint and enhanced capabilities in the home entertainment and digital media platforms in India while also leveraging Fox Theatrical Network's global distribution across 44 countries worldwide. "Our vision is to become a one-stop shop that encompasses film acquisition, development, marketing, production and distribution in India," Mr. Singh said. Fox Star Studios will be expanded into other markets including Greater China and Southeast Asia as well. Star has also partnered with Cox Communications, the third largest cable provider in the U.S., to launch three Indian TV channels on Cox's digital cable platform in northern Virginia, which has one of the largest South Asian populations in the U.S. The launch represents Star's first cable distribution deal in the U.S. Cox now carries Star India Plus and Star One, general entertainment channels, and Star India Gold, a Bollywood movie channel.

FYI 09.17.08

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