Star India inks programming deal with HBO

Media conglomerate Star India today said it has signed a programming deal with HBO to screen original content exclusively in India.

"Star India and HBO have announced an exclusive programming agreement that will take HBO Original content to a wider audience via both, the Hotstar digital platform and the English channels on the Star India network," the company said in a statement.

The programming will be available on Star Network with effect from January 1, 2016.

HBO's Original programming including series like Game of Thrones and True Detective.

"Star is delighted to partner with HBO to bring world class HBO Originals programming for Indian viewers. Star will become the exclusive destination for screening HBO content in India - once again resetting the benchmark for quality and depth of content offering for its viewers.

"Fans will be able to watch their favourite HBO Original programmes on Hotstar on the same day as the telecast in the United States. Viewers will also be able to see the HBO Original programming on Star's English channels," Star India Chief Executive Officer Uday Shankar said.

"Hotstar is a leading destination for our growing family of content viewers. We have constantly aspired to offer high quality content across genres and languages, and HBO Originals with its outstanding programme bouquet, I am sure will be yet another quantum leap in delighting and enthralling our viewers," he added.

Forthcoming series of popular HBO Originals include the extremely popular Game of Thrones, True Detective, Silicon Valley, Veep, and Leftovers as well as new HBO Original series in the forthcoming season which will include the Scorsese series Vinyl, scheduled to air on February 14 and Westworld.

In addition, library favourites such as Entourage, Band of Brothers, The Sopranos and Curb Your Enthusiasm will be available.

"HBO is delighted to enter this new chapter in India with Star. Through the first release of our shows on Hotstar, Indian audiences will now have unprecedented flexibility in how they consume HBO's much loved premium programming," HBO Asia Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Spink said.