ASIAN satellite broadcaster STAR TV has named Australia's Guy Dunstan as its first general manager to run the station acquired by media magnate Rupert Murdoch.
Mr Dunstan, general manager of corporate development for the Ten Television Network in Australia, is expected to take up the newly created position at the end of the month.
Maurice Smyth, senior vice-president of corporate affairs, said Mr Dunstan would oversee the running of STAR TV, set up two years ago by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing.
Earlier, Mr Murdoch appointed James Griffiths, who had been Twentieth Century Fox's president for pay television and international home videos, as STAR TV's managing director.
He replaced Julian Mounter, formerly with Television New Zealand, who stepped down as STAR TV's chief executive a week after Mr Murdoch's News Corp announced its takeover of the broadcaster.
Mr Griffiths said of Mr Dunstan's appointment: ''Guy's experience in managing a broadcasting operation will be a key to our success.'' News Corp, keen to gain a foothold in Asia's growing media market, announced on July 26 it was paying US$525 million for a 63.6 per cent controlling stake in STAR TV.