COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

Star TV, Hong Kong’s Wharf Cable Sever Agreement: Asian satellite broadcaster Star TV has ended its agreement with Hong Kong-based Wharf Cable for the latter to retransmit Star TV’s programming. The decision is significant because it will probably make it more difficult for Star TV to launch a pay TV channel in Hong Kong, one of the most lucrative markets in Asia, because Wharf Cable is set to become the largest cable TV system in the world. Star TV, which was taken over by Rupert Murdoch in July, has been embroiled in a legal dispute with Wharf since January. Under the agreement, Star TV was to be the exclusive provider to Wharf Cale for all English-language programming in Hong Kong.