Star TV declares digital plan

The Star TV network on Thursday announced its plans to go digital with an array of new programmes lined up in the afternoon and weekend kids...

The Star TV network on Thursday announced its plans to go digital with an array of new programmes lined up in the afternoon and weekend kids slot and a 24-hour English pay channel Star World from July 1.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, the network8217;s senior vice-president corporate affairs A S Roy said that with all channels of the network turning digital, the reception would be much stronger in South India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. He said viewers would receive excellent audio video quality and through digital compression, there would be more channels on a single transponder. Some of the international programmes could be shown on low licence fees.

About Star World, he said it will provide a vast range of English language programming that is unmatched in Asia. The channel8217;s international programming epitomises the best in entertainment from across the world. Many of the programmes will be award winners or which are critically acclaimed. Others will be runaway hits around the world. He also informed that Star Movies has tied up with Fox and MGM to bring some recent block busters on the channel.

Star Plus, Roy said offers a new afternoon band with two daily soaps, Manzil and Swabhimaan to be aired from July 6, at 2.30 p.m.. Manzil is the repackaged version of Cinevista8217;s Ghutan, which after a successful run of 42 episodes on Doordarshan was discontinued.

While, Swabhimaan, after 500 episodes on the national channel was discontinued following Prasar Bharati Ceo S G Gill alloting the afternoon slot to regional kendras.

Another soap from Plus Channel Badalte Rishte which was earlier shown on Doordarshan will be seen on Star plus in a repackaged version from July 7, at 7.00 p.m. Roy said the channel does not mind showing programmes earlier shown on some another channel if they suit the taste of the audience. 8220;I am sure that these programmes will help to increase our TRP ratings.8221; The kids band of weekends has three new shows wild encounters 8211; an animal quiz that the entire family can take part in, will be aired on Saturdays at 1.00 p.m. and Animals of Farthing Wood and Animal Adventure, both animation series to be aired on Sunday mornings from 8.00 a.m. onwards.

Without malice, a series on political cartoons and cartoonists will be brought to the viewers starting July 9, at 9.30 p.m. and Kalpana Lajmi8217;s and Bhupen Hazarika8217;s Dawn will kick off from Wednesday, July 22 at 9.30 p.m.. Another Doordarshan serial, The Mouthful of Sky, India8217;s first English series will again be viewed on Star Plus from July 6, at 11.30 p.m..