Star, BCCL to launch home shopping network

In a move to maximise its revenue opportunity, Star India and Bennett, Coleman & Company (BCCL), have joined hands with a Korean company to launch a home-shopping network company.

Paritosh Joshi, Star India's advertising sales and distribution president, will be appointed as the chief executive, according to highly placed sources.

Both Star and BCCL will be equal partners in the home shopping company, which will launch a full-fledged home shopping television channel.

The Korean company, which is yet to debut in India, will hold a minority share in the proposed company, sources close to the development told Business Standard.

The details of the proposed home shopping network will be finalised next week, sources added. This comes a day after Star India joined hands with Sameer Manchanda's Digital Entertainment Networks (DEN) for distributing its 17 television channels in India via cable, DTH, IPTV and other multi-media platforms.

When contacted, a Star India spokesperson said, "We do not comment on speculations or market rumours." Paritosh Joshi was not available for comment.

However, sources said this move will help Star India to open up another revenue stream after the success achieved by Network 18's home shopping network.

The resources for the proposed home shopping channel will be drawn from the existing Star India network and the channel may be launched on the direct-to-home platform Tata Sky with a number of interactive features for both advertisers and consumers, sources said.