The Big Daddy is putting together its plans for direct-to-home (DTH) television and other aspirants can either try to beat them or join them.

The Hindustan Times reported on Saturday that Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) intends to be the first company in India to enter this segment with an investment in excess of Rs 2.5 billion. The proposal will be put up before the company board on 22 January for in-principle approval and VSNL hopes to be ready with a platform by July this year, the report says. VSNL?s plans are very significant as a number of players like the C. Sivasankaran-run Sterling group in partnership with Zee TV, Jain TV, DD, Modi Entertainment Network and B4U have all announced that they would either invest in or set up DTH platforms themselves.

If VSNL achieves first to market advantage, it will be in a position to offer services to these companies. VSNL chairman and managing director SK Gupta did not comment on whether any tie-ups were in the offing, but hinted that he had an open mind on the issue.

A real possibility though would be an alliance with Star TV. It appears to be the only private player seriously putting together any plans to start DTH operations. According to published reports Star is willing to put in up to $ 500 million in its DTH project taking on as many as three to four partners. Star is believed to be ready to form some sort of association with VSNL if it makes business sense.

Asia is looming large on CNN?s screens as it puts into place plans to boost its international operations.

Two integrated newsgathering and production centres are being set up in Hong Kong and London as part of a review of its global operations. Hong Kong, alongside CNN?s other regional headquarters in London, will become a fully integrated regional newsgathering and production hub for the bureaus operating within the region.

The introduction of a new Asia focused CNN web site, to be launched in February, means that CNN?s ability to report from the region will be significantly enhanced.

The changes taking place internationally are part of the major review of newsgathering, production facilities and operations worldwide, and at CNN?s headquarters in Atlanta. Part of which involves the integration of the television and web newsgathering operation and the creation of a newsgathering ?super desk? manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week and providing the focal newsgathering point for CNN?s 34 different services.

"The new ?super desk? and newsgathering operation will provide faster, smarter editorial decision making, enhanced cross platform communications, better prioritisation and collaboration across all platforms," said Eason Jordan, chief news executive and newsgathering president for CNN News Group.

The Star TV network is having a grand party in London on Thursday to celebrate the launch of the Star Plus and Star News channels in the United Kingdom and Europe. The channels began airing on 14 January on Rupert Murdoch?s BSkyB platform.

Star Plus viewers will, however, have to do without India?s daily fix, Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). Star has failed to reach a licencing agreement to screen it from Celador, which holds the rights to the original which spawned KBC - "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire".

This hasn?t deterred Star from flying out Amitabh Bachchan - Bollywood superstar and celebrity host of KBC - for the bash. His, after all, is the face that reflects Star?s present pole position in India?s channel wars.

Star News newscaster and New Delhi Television boss, Pranoy Roy, Hindustan Times editor Vir Sanghvi, and society presenter Simi Garewal are among the other prominent personalities who will be there.

The strong south Asian community in Britain in particular is what Star hopes to hook with the launch of these two channels, says News Television India Ltd?s corporate communications head Yash Khanna. While the Star News feed in Britain will be exactly the same as that in India, Star Plus will be slightly different. KBC will obviously be a hard act to cover for but Star hopes that its other hit soaps and serials, as well as programmes from Channel V bunged in for good measure, will hook the viewer.