'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)