Responding to growing viewer demand, Cartoon Network will expand to a 24-hour television service effective 1 July 2001, it was announced today by Ian Diamond, senior vice-president and general manager, Turner Entertainment Networks Asia, Inc. (TENA).

TENA is pursuing content aggregation across multiple platforms including television, interactive media, publishing, consumer products and promotional licensing, with a view to establishing Cartoon Network as an entertainment superbrand in this region.

The company is currently exploring alternative distribution platforms to deliver TCM Turner Classic Movies as a premium offering in markets that present that opportunity. Until now, TCM and Cartoon Network have been a shared service in most Asian markets, with the Hollywood classic movies being featured from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am.

"The 24-hour service is in line with Cartoon Network‘s global strategic mission to elevate cartoons and animation to the level of general entertainment that appeals to both kids and grownups at different levels. The enhanced daypart will enable us to customise our programming and marketing efforts to better suit viewer needs," said Ian Diamond.

The 24-hour launch will be marked by the debut of several new programme franchises and an enhanced lineup of Cartoon Network originals, Japanese animation and other acquired shows. 2001 Network premieres include new Cartoon Network shows Sheep in the Big City, Samurai Jack, Time Squad, The Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Ed Edd n Eddy, and Mike Lu n Og; and new programme franchises Boomerang, Cartoon Cartoon Fridays, Toonami, Acme Hour and Power Zone. External acquisitions include Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Trouble Chocolate and GI Joe. Many of these are also Asian television premieres.

The Star bouquet of channels, which has been blacked out in Kolkata due to a continuing dispute with cable operators over subscription fees, should be back on air within the next few days, Arun Mohan, executive vice-president, distribution, says.

Mohan says that his team is working out independent arrangements with a number of sub-operators which will see a resolution to the stalemate. Mohan added that Mumbai-based multi-systems operator (MSO) Hathway, in which Star had a 26 per cent stake, will invest in setting up a base in Kolkata to prevent a repeat of the present situation in future.

Star‘s problems have been compounded in Kolkata because RPG Netcom, which has 75 per cent C&S penetration and rival Zee Telefilm‘s Siti Cable, which has the remaining 25 per cent, have worked in tandem to put a spoke in the channel‘s plans.

Matters came to a head when Star increased its rates by Rs 9 per month to RS 30 from 1 March for the package comprising Star Plus, Star News, Star Movies, Star Gold, Star World, National Geographic and Channel V.

According to Star, the Kolkata cable operators have formed a unionised cartel and actually declare only 25 per cent of their total subscriber base thereby directly pocketing 75 per cent of the end-users‘ subscriptions and at the cost of the broadcasters.

Following up on the launch of Star Plus and Star News channels in the United Kingdom and Europe, Star has charted out plans to extend the footprint of the two channels in the United States and Canada.

The channels hope to capture the large Indian population in these countries, Arun Mohan, executive vice-president, distribution, says.

Confirming that Star expected to air the twin channels from August 15 in the US and later extend the same package to Canada, Mohan said: "After that we will be looking at Africa and Australia." Asked whether Star had marked out any specific countries, Mohan said that though countries like South Africa and Nigeria immediately came to mind, any country in Africa which had a significant Indian population could be covered.

The two channels began airing in the United Kingdom on 14 January on Rupert Murdoch‘s BSkyB platform. Though the channels are free-to-air at present, the process of encryption of the channels has been completed and they will become paid channels from April. Star has tied up with two multiple-systems operators (MSOs) and the two channels will be on air for ?16 per month.

In the US, Star has allied with six MSOs and will air the channels for a flat price of $25 per month for the two channels.

If the arrangement is anything like that existing in the UK, Star Plus viewers will have to do without Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). Star has no licencing agreement from Celador to screen it. Celador holds the rights to the original which spawned KBC - "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire".