STAR TV ZOOMS IN ON PROGRAMMING DEALS

The Star TV management is slowly discovering various irregularities in various deals struck during the past two years. As a result, the Rupert Murdoch-controlled company's Indian subsidiary has stopped commissioning new programmes for the past three months.

One of the glaring examples that is cited by senior executives is that involving film producer Ramesh Sippy. His contract with Star TV India included making few series for Star Plus and one of the clauses stated that he would make available his evergreen blockbuster, Sholay to Star TV for airing. Star executives say, recently when this clause was invoked it was found that Sippy no longer has the rights for the film as he has already sold it to another party.

All the new programming that one sees on Star Plus, for example, these days are results of deals signed 18-24 months back. "We are sending `sorry' notes to all those producers who have sent us new proposals in the last four months," a Star source said, adding, "We want to scrutinise every deal before we go ahead with fresh ones."

Star TV India is also unhappy with the almost one-sided deal which has been signed with NDTV for Star News channel. Sources say, Star TV spends about $12 million a year on the channel with about 15 per cent escalation per year in cost factored in as one of the clauses. Hong Kong is seriously reviewing the contract with NDTV vis-a-vis the mind space it occupies amongst the audience and the revenue that it is generating --- which is very little compared to the investments being made, sources said. NDTV's contract comes up for review in February 2000 after three years are completed.