DirecTV Expands International Programming to Include Star Indian Channels and International Cricket

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. & HONG KONG, Nov. 18/Satnews Daily/ ¾ DirecTV, Inc is  expanding its international programming platform with the launch of new South Asian programming from Star Group Limited, one of Asia's leading media company.

Four Star  Indian channels -- Star Plus, Star One, Star News and Vijay -- are now available on the DirecTV programming platform as part of its new suite of international services. The United States logos for Star Plus and Star News will incorporate the word "India" to denote the Indian origin of the programming.

DirecTV will also launch CricketTicket, the first-ever season-long subscription TV package for international cricket, which offers DirecTV customers cricket matches from around the world, beginning today.

"The South Asian population in the United States, with more than two million people, is one of the fastest growing communities and will now have access to the same top-rated, high-quality programming that is available in India," said Mitchell Stern, president and CEO, DirecTV, Inc. Stern added these are the first of several international channels that DirecTV is rolling out.

The multi-year agreement with Star Group Limited brings to viewers in the United States the programs that have made Star one of the leading cable network in India. The Star lineup features popular dramas, comedies, game shows, news and documentaries. Star Plus (channel 2001), Star One (channel 2003) and Star News (channel 2002) are broadcast in Hindi and Vijay (channel 2004) is broadcast in Tamil.

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