Murdoch to invest in Indian TV

News Corps. CEO plans six regional channels

By PATRICK FRATER

HONG KONG -- Rupert Murdoch plans to invest $100 million to launch six regional TV channels in India via News Corp.'s Asian broadcaster Star.

"We will launch in the next 12 months," Murdoch told reporters in Mumbai on Monday, declining to give further financial details.

Murdoch is in India to announce the launch of the Dow Jones India Titan 30 Index. News Corp. acquired global business news and information services firm Dow Jones for $5 billion last year.

Murdoch earlier met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and government officials in New Delhi before traveling to Mumbai to meet business and media figures, including Star executives.

Star operates 17 channels in India, including some regional channels, catering to India's many different ethnic groups.

The Star Group broadcasts 60 TV services in 10 languages to more than 300 million viewers in 53 Asian countries.

Star had previously announced plans to launch channels in several local languages with partners including Balaji Telefilms (Daily Variety, April 20, 2007).

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