EXCLUSIVE: UMP Stars to launch in UK next month

Touted as the official Bollywood channel, UMP Stars (UTV Stars India) will be launching on the Sky Digital platform next month, BizAsia can exclusively reveal.

BizAsia has already reported that the channel has been eyeing a launch for several months after the hugely successful launch of UMP Movies, the network�۪s Bollywood film channel.

UMP Stars launched in India in August last year and has done reasonably well. At the time of its launch, filmmakers Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Farah Khan, Ashutosh Gowarikar and Ronnie Screwvala all got together for the launch event.
UMP Movies will concentrate on its films output, whereas UMP Stars�۪ output will mainly consist of showbiz related magazine programmes. The channel is known for programmes hosted by celebrities including ��Live My Life�۪, ��Up Close and Personal With…’ and ‘The Club’.

UMP Movies is launching on Sky Digital in mid-May, with the channel already signed up for official viewing data with BARB from Monday 21st May. The channel will broadcast free-to-air.

BizAsia understands that World Media Connect will once again look after the launch marketing of the channel, similar to what it did at the time of UMP Movies debut in December.