STAR TV and ANZ, in association with MasterCard Intern-ational, on Friday announced the launch of their co-branded credit card, ANZ Grindlays STAR TV World Card.
The deal is between ANZ Australia and the Hong Kong-based STAR TV. In India, it will be implemented through ANZ Grindlays.
ANZ Grindlays STAR TV World Card will offer cardholders an array of powerful benefits and services that are `firsts' in Indian card industry, an official statement from News Television India, STAR TV's Indian subsidiary, stated.
Rollout of similar co-branded credit card in other countries in Asia Pacific will follow. Following the completion of Standard Chartered's acquisition of Grindl-ays, this programme will be pursued by the new entity.
This includes powerful rewards programme with opportunities to earn reward points 10 to 15 times faster through a unique `Bonus Partner' scheme. In addition, cardholders will be entitled to exclusive movie screenings and concerts throughout the year and also get opportunities to participate in STAR TV shows.
ANZ Grindlays STAR TV World card will be accepted worldwide at 17 million merchants and 4,60,000 ATM's and over 1,10,000 outlets in India/Nepal.
ANZ Grindlays STAR TV World cardholders will also receive free rewards for using this card.
In addition, revolving credit facility, balance transfer from other credit cards, 24-hour call centres, draft-on-demand, tele-travel service, personal accident insurance and other emergency services are being offered.
Peter Mukherjea, chief executive of News Television India in the statement said, "The attractive combination of STAR TV and ANZ Banking Group in the form of a World Card will bring in great value to millions of our viewers across India. The fact that our viewers will now be able to keep a STAR TV branded credit card with them at all the times will undoubtedly bring us closer."
"This card has been designed to draw on the strengths of STAR TV in media and entertainment, ANZ's position as a leading credit card issuer in Australia and New Zealand and Grindlays' franchise in India," the statement, quoting Denzil Lawson, head of electronic banking (international) of ANZ Banking Group, stated. A unique feature of the card is that applications will be accepted over the telephone through a Single Response Telephone Number.
This is the inaugural launch of the co-branded credit card after the alliance was formalised between ANZ Banking Group and STAR TV, a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch-promoted News Corp Ltd. ANZ Grindlays STAR TV World Card is being offered with a membership fee of Rs 1,200 per annum and targeted at urban, middle and upper-middle class families.
