The Hindu Business Line : Star to foray into talent management

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Peter Mukerjea, Chief Executive, Star India, said: "Talent management is an opportunity and we are studying this market quite closely. Since we already have a platform, we have talent that we can sign up but we will not be restricted to our channels. We are open to doing business with anyone. The business will get treated as an independent profit centre by the company."

Not restricting the business to the entertainment industry, Star is open to signing up talent from different fields including sports.

Adds Mr Mukerjea, "There are three levels of people that we are looking at. There are people who are already there with big names, people who are breaking through and around the corner and then there are the new comers."

Tapping into talent from all walks of life, the media company is planning to cover all aspects of celebrity management.

"At present the business is on a limited scale (in India) but there is an opportunity in this market. We have an understanding of this business and intend getting involved across the entire spectrum of the talent management business," says Mr Mukerjea.

Using the credentials of the Star brand, the company is also offering an opportunity for advertisers who are looking at getting product endorsement from the celebrity management contract. Meanwhile, Star is also planning to make a comeback in the radio space. After partnering Radio City as a content supplier and taking care of its ad sales in the past, the media major is hoping to tap into this medium once again.

Claims Mr Mukerjea, "Our withdrawal from Radio City is history now. Today, we believe there is an opportunity in radio. At that point of time, the Government was not allowing direct foreign investment but now thankfully the law has changed."

While there is a possibility of Star going back to Radio City with the 20 per cent FDI limit that has been allowed, the company is open to evaluating new opportunity in this space.

"The landscape looks right and we will certainly be going back to it," states Mr Mukerjea, who is hoping the 20 per cent FDI limit in radio would get extended even further in future.