MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) has signed a deal with Star DEN (the distribution joint venture between News Corp.’s Star India and DEN Digital Entertainment Network) to launch The MGM Channel on Indian cable television,. Carriage of The MGM Channel will be handled by Star DEN.

MGM Networks executive vice president Bruce Tuchman was in India to make the announcement.

Under the terms of the distribution agreement, entered into by MGM Programming Service India, Star DEN will handle distribution of The MGM Channel, wholly owned by MGM, to cable platforms operating in a nation-wide cable market of over 70 million homes. 

This will significantly increase the reach of The MGM Channel, which is currently available in India through Dish TV. In addition, the Star DEN carriage agreement will also help The MGM Channel secure carriage on new DTH and IPTV platforms that are emerging across the country.

Tuchman said, "Being backed by Star India and DEN is the ultimate seal of approval in the eyes of India’s cable operators, and we’re thrilled that we will be distributed as part of Star DEN’s unrivaled bouquet of channel offerings. By working with Star DEN, MGM will now have a compelling opportunity to extend and accelerate our channel’s reach throughout the widest possible audience in the large and burgeoning Indian television market."

Star DEN CEO Gurjeev Singh Kapoor added, "MGM with its huge library of compelling Hollywood movies will bring a great value addition to the Star DEN bouquet of channels and will indeed complement the best of English Programming it offers to viewers in the country."

The 24-hour MGM Channel offers movies from MGM library of over 4,000 films. Highlights among the channel’s planned movie offerings in the coming year include Woody Allen’s Manhattan, Network, Carrie, A Passage to India, Midnight Cowboy, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Mystic Pizza, Desperately Seeking Susan amongst others.