Television content provider Balaji Telefilms Ltd. is in talks with a consortium of investors to buy the 25.99 percent stake held by a unit of Rupert Murdoch's Star group, Mint newpaper reported on Tuesday.
The stake is owned by Dubai-based Asian Broadcasting FZ-LLC and was bought for 1.23 billion rupees in 2004, the paper said.
Balaji will float another joint venture company with these investors to launch a bouquet of regional television channels, the paper said.
While Star was “very close” to ending its relationship with Balaji, the formalities were yet to be completed, the paper cited an unnamed official as saying.
On Monday, News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch said the U.S. media conglomerate plans to invest $100 million in six regional language channels in India, where it is a leading broadcaster.
Officials at Balaji Telefilms could not be immediately reached for comment. Murdoch on Monday declined to comment on speculation Star and Balaji were ending their venture.
Source: Reuters