Twenty-First Century Fox 2004 Annual Report Download - page 20

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18
STAR performer in Asia
News Corporation’s pan-Asian
television platform, STAR, recorded
its second full year of operational
profitability in fiscal 2004 as its
growth continued.
The breadth and depth of
STAR’s businesses expanded dur-
ing the year, with new distribution
deals in a number of key markets
– including Hong Kong and
Singapore – and with the addition
of several new channels. The total
number of channels broadcast on
the network increased to 47.
In India, STAR’s leadership
position among cable channels
was undisputed. Star Plus, the
flagship Hindi entertainment
channel, reigned as the number
one cable channel – a position
it has held since July 2000.
The channel accounted for
approximately 80 of the top 100
programs each week in cable
homes across the Hindi markets.
In June, STAR launched Star
Utsav, a new Hindi entertainment
channel featuring some of the
best programming previously
broadcast on Star Plus. In the
first two weeks after launch, the
channel was seen by almost 17
million people.
STAR also made progress in
the direct-to-home (DTH) market-
place in India. During fiscal 2004,
it formed a joint venture with the
Tata Group for the proposed
launch of a DTH television plat-
form in India.
In China, Xing Kong Wei Shi, the
flagship Mandarin entertainment
channel, was the number one
regional channel in Guangzhou
province. Another record was set
by Channel [V] as the 10th [V]
Chinese Music Awards drew an
audience of 226 million with syndi-
cation to other networks in China
as well.
Other markets, including
Taiwan, the Middle East, South
East Asia and Hong Kong,
also continued to grow and con-
tribute to the overall profitability
of the group.
NEWS CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 2004
bTV Big in Bulgaria
Launched in 2000 as Bulgaria’s first national private television station,
bTV was an instant success. Since then, its mix of local and foreign
programming has helped it achieve a stunning 40 percent share of the
audience.
bTV’s main and late evening news have become the most popular
newscasts in Bulgaria, while
This Morning
beats its competition with a
50 percent share. bTV also maintained high ratings in entertainment
shows with some of the most watched programs in Bulgaria. The
recently launched game show
The Exam
was the most watched game
show in the nation with a 52 percent audience share.
TELEVISION