The Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star TV has decided to phase out all English news and current affairs (N&CA) programming from Star Plus. At present, most of the English N&CA programming on Star Plus is being produced by Prannoy Roy's NDTV.
Star TV has also communicated to NDTV that it should stop promoting ndtv.com on Star News channel.
"All English N&CA programming will be phased out of Star Plus over a couple of months. And NDTV-produced News on Sunday and the daily news bulletins will be axed, a senior executive of Star TV told Business Standard.
"We want to position Star Plus as a Hindi general entertainment channel," he said.
This will mean that NDTV-produced programming will remain confined to only Star News, a 24-hour channel, with the editorial control lying with NDTV. Besides, NDTV does some programmes for BBC World.
However, a questionnaire e-mailed to Prannoy Roy at ndtv.com failed to elicit any response till yesterday.
Though Star was evasive on questions regarding the reported rift between NDTV and Star TV, the Star executive said discussions had been held between the two regarding a business news channel which NDTV proposes to start.
"Certainly some discussions have been held (regarding collaborating on the proposed business channel), between Star and NDTV, but nothing has been decided yet," the Star executive said.
"It may also be noted that NDTV may not collaborate with Star on the business news channel," he added.
But according to cable and satellite industry sources, NDTV has plans to launch a business news channel.
However, both Star and NDTV have agreed that when Star TV starts streaming programmes on its website, the latter will provide news and current affairs programmes.
Still, the Star executive admitted some difference of opinion had cropped up between NDTV and Star TV over the former's Internet site and its promotion on Star News channel.
NDTV had signed a five-year multi-million dollar deal with Star TV to produce the news and current affairs genre of programming for Star TV, especially Star News in 1998.
Star News was launched in early February, 1998 to cash in on the general elections fever.
The NDTV and Star News deal envisaged revenue sharing with the editorial control lying with NDTV-- which had been opposed by a section of Star TV executives.
Star TV communicated to NDTV that it should stop promoting ndtv.com on Star News channel
