Star World acquires rights for slew of shows

MUMBAI: Star has acquired the rights for a slew of shows for India including ?Pan Am? from Sony Pictures Television.

Star India senior VP, GM English channels Saurabh Yagnik confirmed the acquisition saying that other shows that have been bought recently include ?The River?, ?Missing? with Ashley Judd and ?Charlie Angels?.

Interestingly, ?Charlie?s Angels? was cancelled by US broadcaster ABC after just four episodes. The re-boot of the 1960?s series failed to gain traction.

Yagnik said that acquisitions have to make business sense. "We look at a show from the point of view of the cost, from the aspect of whether it will generate interest among viewers. The shows will air on Star World. We have to decide when to launch them."

?Pan Am?, starring Christina Ricci, centres around the iconic airline Pan American World Airways during the early 1960s. The story begins in 1963 and focusses on the pilots and stewardesses working for the world-famous airline.

?The River? from Steven Spielberg, meanwhile, is a paranormal/adventure/horror series that will debut during the 2011?12 television season on ABC as a mid-season replacement. Eight episodes will be produced for the first season.

The show follows the story of wildlife expert and TV personality Emmet Cole. Emmet set course around the world with his wife, Tess, and son Lincoln, while filming what would become one of the most popular shows in television. After he goes missing deep in the Amazon, his family, friends and crew set out on a mysterious and deadly journey to find him.

?Missing? is an action drama show. The story is about a worried mother played by Judd, whose son disappears while on a summer internship in Italy, takes it upon herself to travel to Europe and tracks him down. She is a retired CIA agent and uses every means necessary to get her son back.

The show also stars Cliff Curtis, Sean Bean and Nick Eversman.