Jobs bonanza as STAR TV expands

HONG Kong is to get a jobs bonanza in the broadcasting industry with the announcement that STAR TV is to significantly increase the number of television channels and programmes it transmits.

Staff at the satellite station have begun negotiating over what the new line-up will look like and what they will need to put it on air.

Already on the cards are Mandarin-language entertainment channels for the burgeoning China market, Hindi-language film services for India, and Open University and other educational channels.

Another likely development will be the local transmission of Sky News, a 24-hour international news service made by BSkyB in Britain - possibly in an altered editorial form tailored to the Asian market.

If Sky News does come here, it is thought the Hong Kong bureau of the service will be expanded and that the territory could become the centre for much wider news coverage in Asia.

Viewers are also likely to benefit from a host of other programmes made or owned by BSkyB.

STAR TV spokesman Maurice Smyth said: ''STAR will have to employ more people. If we add to our current service then we will have to get more staff to continue on our path of progress.'' The expansion is an important plank of STAR's strategy for the region since Rupert Murdoch acquired a majority stake in the company.