MUMBAI: Star and GekTV will be launching three Mandarin language Star channels on the US based GekTV IPTV platform on 15 March. The three channels include Star Chinese Channel, Channel [V] Taiwan and Star Chinese Movies 2.

GekTV Entertainment is one of the premier Chinese language distribution platforms in the US. By partnering with Tai Seng Media (Asia), a division of US-based Tai Seng Entertainment Group, GekTV will deliver the three Star channels to paying subscribers across the US via its proprietary set-top box to TV sets. Tai Seng Media will provide all head-end solutions and monitor the delivery of the three live Channel feeds to North America.

The channels will launch on GekTV’s Mandarin package which already includes TVB On Demand, Phoenix North America, Phoenix Infonews, Azio TV, Tai Seng Entertainment Channel, Tai Seng Movie Channel, Tai Seng Drama Channel, Fashion TV-Asia, I-Cable Entertainment News and more. GekTV’s service is currently available throughout the United States and will be launched in Canada April 2008.

"GekTV has built a strong customer base across the US, and we are proud to add our leading Channels to their platform. This deal underscores our continued commitment to bringing our popular Mandarin language Channels to audiences in North America, enabling them to keep up to date with Asia’s top content, be it music, variety shows, movies, game shows or dramas," said Star senior vice president for distribution and sales and head of Star’s North American and European offices David Wisnia.

"GekTV already has a stellar lineup of Asian Channels and the addition of Star’s three Channels will allow our subscribers access to the most comprehensive package of premium Chinese Channels. GekTV is proud to partner with Star to deliver first rate Mandarin programming to audiences in North America," said GekTV president Bernard Soo.