DIRECTV announced the launch of STAR India GOLD for US & Latin America

DIRECTV, the world's most popular video service, and STAR, a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation and Asia's leading media and entertainment company, announced a multi-year extension for the carriage of STAR India PLUS, STAR ONE and STAR India NEWS along with the launch of STAR India GOLD on DIRECTV's South-Asian international platform.

STAR India GOLD, one of India's top movie channels, is a twenty-four-seven Hindi movie channel that brings the biggest and best Bollywood blockbusters to audiences. With one of the most formidable Indian film libraries in the world, the channel offers a wide variety of films for the entire family, showcasing Bollywood's hottest and most legendary stars and filmmakers. STAR India PLUS is one of the most watched Hindi general entertainment channels in North America and has been India's number one general entertainment channel for the past 10 years.

DIRECTV became STAR's first programming partner in the U.S. when the STAR channels made their American debut in November, 2004.

"Since their launch in 2004, STAR's leading Indian channels have become household names among DIRECTV's South Asian subscribers," said David Wisnia, STAR's Senior Vice President of Distribution, Sales and Marketing and head of STAR's North American office. "We are excited to extend our relationship with our partners at DIRECTV and are confident that with the launch of STAR India GOLD, viewers will get to see the best of Bollywood and continue to be captivated by the top rated comedies, drama series, reality shows and news programs that our other top rated STAR channels showcase on a daily basis."

"DIRECTV has become the destination for South-Asian consumers who want the best and most relevant Indian programming," said Toby Berlin, vice president of DIRECTV Programming Acquisitions. "We are thrilled to not only extend our relationship with STAR but to also enhance it with the launch of STAR India Gold, Hindi cinema entertainment at its best."

DIRECTV's HindiDirect and HindiDirect„¢ II programming packages are part of the DIRECTV International programming platform and are tailored toward Hindi-speaking audiences within the United States. DIRECTV International customers must first subscribe to DIRECTV BASIC CHOICE„¢ ($12.99/mo) or any DIRECTV base programming package ($29.99/mo or above). For more information on how to receive STAR customers should call 1-800-378-4179.

DIRECTV's International programming platform currently offers around 130 channels that deliver a wide variety of programming in multiple foreign-languages, including Spanish, Russian, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, and Greek, to emerging ethnic markets throughout the United States.