STAR TV and Wharf Cable are negotiating how much to charge viewers for STAR's subscription service, which potential pay-TV operator Wharf must carry.
STAR president Mr Julian Mounter yesterday said an initial three-channel service would be ready by October, Wharf's planned launch date.
STAR's three channels will be for Mandarin and Cantonese movies, for English films, and for children's programmes. STAR plans to increase its subscription service to six channels by early 1994.
But the launch of the new STAR channels this autumn depends largely on Wharf's 12-year licence being approved by China. Mr Mounter said STAR was ''not going to hang around for five years'' waiting for Wharf to get up and running.
He said STAR would go it alone in Hongkong.
By the first quarter of next year, STAR also hopes to have business and documentary channels, and another film channel, probably in Mandarin and Hindi, on its subscription service.
