Thaindian News

New York, Sep 24 (IANS) STAR India PLUS has joined hands with American Verizon FiOS TV, that offers nearly 40 other international channels covering more than 20 languages, to bring people of South Asian origin a choice fare in the US.
The channel began launching on FiOS TV this week and will be in all markets by Monday.

“The addition of STAR India PLUS to the FiOS TV channel lineup further enhances our overall multicultural offering with new content that includes favourite dramas, game shows and more,”saidTerry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon.

“Bringing new content and sponsorship support to South Asian communities has been a priority for Verizon, and we look forward to more opportunities in the future.”

David Wisnia, STAR’s senior vice president of distribution, sales and marketing and head of STAR’s North American office, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be making STAR India PLUS available to FiOS TV subscribers.

“Viewers will be entertained like never before with our exciting array of dramas, reality shows and Bollywood Blockbusters. We look forward to growing our relationship with Verizon FiOS and to sharing more of STAR’s top-rated networks in the near future.”

Prime time programmes on STAR India PLUS include household-name soap operas like “Tere Liye,” “Sasural Genda Phool,” “Pratigya” and “Behenein,” and other favourites like”Bidaai”and”Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.”

In addition, the channel offers some of India’s favourite reality programmes and game shows, including “Zara Nach Ke Dikha.”

STAR India Plus recently refreshed its brand identity and philosophy in India with a new tag line, “Rishta Wohi, Soch Nayi”(Same relationships, New thought), thereby symbolising the channel’s goal to always be relevant to its Indian viewers while simultaneously mirroring the goings on in Indian society.

STAR India PLUS is part of FiOS TV’s South Asian (Hindi) package - which already includes Zee TV, TV Asia and SET Asia - for $34.99 per month. Verizon also offers another South Asian channel in Punjab called Jus Punjabi for $9.99 per month.

The new channel joins Verizon FiOS TV’s broad collection of programming that includes more than 520 all-digital channels with up to 140 HD channels and 18,000 monthly video-on-demand titles.

FiOS also provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social networking, news and entertainment widgets; remote DVR management via broadband or cell phone