MUMBAI: As digitisation spreads, Star India is looking to boost its portfolio of English channels. It will launch a new channel Star Movies Action on 2 June. This replaces Fox Action Movies which stopped airing on 11 May.

The new channel targets males in the age group 15-35 years from SEC A and B. One big difference is that while Fox Action Movies mainly focused on martial arts, Star Movies Action will cover a broader spread within the action genre.

It will have 300 titles exclusive to it that will not air on Star Movies. Star has first output rights to the library of Fox, Universal and Disney. The Universal deal was struck last year and films from that studio started airing on Star Movies from 1 January this year. The broadcaster also has a second run output deal with Sony.
 
Star India business head- English channels Kevin Vaz said, "Action is the most consumable and popular genre in the English movie category in India. Action thrillers are the best rated amongst English movies, as they cut all barriers of language with their universally captivating action styles and are therefore highly viewed across all sections of society."

"With Star Movies Action, our objective is to cater to the growing demand for this genre by bringing the best of Hollywood action titles and fill the existing gap in the category. Moreover, we promise a lot of exciting engagement opportunities for our viewers which would further strengthen the channel?s position in the English entertainment category in the country," Vaz added.
 
In the first month there will be three premieres ?Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter?, the Jackie Chan starrer ?Chinese Zodiac? and sequel of the ?Taken? franchise ?Taken 2?.

There will be a 360 degree campaign to create buzz for the launch. Ads on TV will air across the Star network. There will also be promotion on print, cable and DTH platforms.

The broadcaster has also roped in rock group Pentagram who has composed an anthem- ?A Hero Will Rise?. A social media plan has also been developed to use the mediums of Facebook and Twitter to connect with the audiences.

Moreover an interactive video that resembles the spirit of Star Movies Action can be seen on the site.

MUMBAI: As the English movie landscape gets more competitive Multi Screen Media?s (MSM) channel Pix has done a deal with MGM which will see titles from the Bond, Pink Panther, Rocky, Terminator franchises among others to air.

The deal is for three years. Pix business head Saurabh Yagnik said that the deal also covers new films like the new Bond film ?Skyfall?, ?The Hobbit? and in future the remake of ?Robocop?. "In all, we will be able to expand our library by 50-60 films.

"In addition, we will also showcase all Bond titles and popular movies from MGM?s stable like the Rocky series, Terminator, Species, The Pink Panther and Conan the Destroyer".
 
Late last year MSM had poached Yagnik from category leader Star Movies in a bid to get a leg up on the competition. This is his first major move since then. Pix which had started as a library channel made the transition to more current films when it did an output deal with its parent Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) a couple of years ago. The next major title from SPE is ?The Amazing Spiderman? which will air on the channel in June. As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com Himmat Butalia will move from Pix to AXN to head marketing. Pix has started the search for somebody to fill his role.

MUMBAI: Star India?s English movie channel Star Movies will launch the ?Animation Domination? block from Monday to Friday at 7 pm next month.

The special block will screen animated titles like ?Rio?, ?Ratatouille?, ?Ice Age 3?, ?Cars 2?, ?Wall-E? and ?Finding Nemo?.

Star Movies will also premier ?Brave? - this year?s Oscar winner for the best animation movie on 25 May at 9 pm. ?Brave? is the story of Princess Merida, a spectacular archer, who goes on a solitary journey into the forest to change her fate.

MUMBAI: English movie channel Star Movies has announced its initiative ?Seven Days Seven Premieres?. Going beyond its promise of showcasing a new Hollywood title for the first time on TV every week, the channel will present a movie marathon in March.

Star Movies will have a premiere every day for seven days. The week-long premiere includes Naked Soldier, which airs tonight at 9 pm. Phoenix, a gorgeous lethal killer brainwashed by the Evil Madame Rose, makes a startling discovery in a mission to eliminate his own father.

?Marley and Me: The Puppy Years? airs from 19 March. The world?s worst dog now has an attitude and a frisky voice. He and his summer pal, Bodi Grogan cause mayhem at the local dog contest. Marley outsmarts lots of other dogs while winning hearts.

On ?The Next Three Days? a married couple?s life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder.