Urmila Gupta, one of the last executives brought in by former Star TV India head honcho R. Basu, has quit the company. Gupta was in charge of Star TV's IndiaSkyB, direct to home project, when the government placed a ban on the sale of Ku-band reception equipment in December 1996.

Star TV continued to support ISkyB for nearly two years before deciding to pull the plug on it in 1999 and she was put in charge of strategic initiatives.

Her resignation comes at a time when the government is making all the noises about allowing multiple DTH operators.

In a note to her colleagues she says, "The last few years have seen dramatic changes both within Star and the external operating environment. It gives me a particularly great sense of satisfaction to see that a number of issues we fought for fiercely at different fora have finally been achieved. The draconian and restrictive Broadcasting Bill of 1997 has been replaced by the enlightened ICE bill which finally recognises technological convergence. The liberalisation in the IT and Telecom sector will surely get reflected in the Broadcasting sector. One can also see the end of the DTH tunnel. "

"Thanks to intensive "lobbying" in the last 3 years. The first Indian team had to bear the burnt of deep hostility and suspicion in those early pioneering years but at least now the company can get on with its business including perhaps DTH now . I am sure that the way in which KBC and Star under Peter's dynamic leadership dominates the Indian TV scenario today, is only the start of greater things to come. "

She adds that she is hoping to pursue one of her long-cherished career goals "with a more hands on role in the creative aspects of production and media management."