Los Angeles

Posted: Mon., Jan. 21, 2008, 6:18pm PT

NBC eyes TV perch in India

Zucker expected to unveil major expansion

NBC U topper Jeff Zucker is in London this week, where he is expected to unveil a major expansion into India.

Studio is poised to announce a $100 million purchase of a 30% stake in NDTV Networks, the U.K.-registered channels management division of New Delhi Television (NDTV), one of India's most innovative and successful broadcast groups.

Deal also is expected to bring NDTV capital injection and content.

NDTV Networks owns NDTV Lifestyle, NDTV Convergence, NDTV Labs and a 50% stake in NGEN Media Services. It also owns NDTV Imagine, the high-profile general entertainment channel that launched Monday (Daily Variety, Jan 21.)

Move would be Zucker's second major international play, having last year spent $350 million to acquire Sparrowhawk Media.

"Entertainment is growing faster outside the United States than it is inside the United States. So if you want to grow, you have to go outside the United States," he said recently.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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