HBO programming to debut on Star Network from 1st January

An exclusive agreement will put HBO Originals content on the Hotstar platform, as well as on Star India's English channels.

Star India and HBO have announced an exclusive programming agreement that will take HBO's original content to a wider audience via both Hotstar digital platform, as well as the English channels on the Star India network.

The programmes under HBO Originals include series like Game of Thrones and True Detective.

Commenting on the deal, Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India, says that the network is delighted to partner with HBO. "Star will become the exclusive destination for screening HBO content in India -- once again re-setting the benchmark for quality and depth of content offering for its viewers. Fans will be able to watch their favourite HBO Original programmes on Hotstar on the same day as the telecast in the United States. Viewers will also be able to see the HBO Original programming on Star's English channels," says Shankar.

He further adds, "Hotstar is a leading destination for our growing family of content viewers. We have constantly aspired to offer high quality content across genres and languages, and HBO Originals with its outstanding programme bouquet, will be yet another quantum leap

towards entertaining our viewers."

Jonathan Spink, CEO, HBO Asia, says that the channel is pleased to enter this new chapter in India with Star. "Through the first release of our shows on Hotstar, Indian audiences will now have unprecedented flexibility in how they consume HBO's much loved premium programming."

Apart from popular series like Game of Thrones and True Detective, the forthcoming shows of HBO Originals lined up include Silicon Valley, Veep and Leftovers. The HBO Original series in the forthcoming season will include the Scorsese series Vinyl, as well as Westworld. In addition to that, shows from the library content such as Entourage, Band of Brothers, The Sopranos, and Curb Your Enthusiasm will also be available.