'STAR TV' to start SE Asia channel

'STAR TV' to start SE Asia channel

JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong-based STAR TV announced yesterday a special channel for Southeast Asia, whose programs will be transmitted using a transponder of the Indonesian telecommunications satellite, Palapa B-2P.

Starting on Saturday, viewers in the region will be able to enjoy a new 24-hour service which will carry premium sports and music programs, as well as movies.

During the day, the channel will offer a combination of Prime Sports and Channel (V) music, geared to both English- and Chinese-speaking audiences.

The channel will be available throughout Southeast Asia and transmitted unencrypted to allow free access to viewers.

In the evening, the channel will carry top quality international movies which will be encrypted. Viewers wishing to watch STAR TV movies will have to purchase a receiver. However, there will be no subscription fees for the lifetime of this channel.

And as an added benefit, customers who already own such a receiver will be offered preferential terms when STAR TV introduces its new multi-channel lineup of 15 channels across Southeast Asia later this year.

The company's sales and marketing manager for the region, Camp Walker, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that receivers will be available in Indonesia through Para Star Satelcom, the sole distributor in Jakarta.

People will, however, be able to keep on viewing STAR TV through the AsiaSat 1 satellite, which has not so far given full coverage to the entire archipelago.

STAR TV is owned by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, whose network reaches more than 220 million people in 53 countries in Asia and the Middle East. STAR TV's services include Channel (V), EL TV, Prime Sports, STAR Chinese Channel, STAR Plus, BBC World and ZEE TV.(icn)