Singapore – Hong Kong-based STAR Group will be launching two HD channels in 2009, leveraging the group’s Chinese-language library and STAR Movies brand to do so. Speaking to a packed CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum, held June 16 at the Four Seasons in Singapore, STAR chief operating officer Laureen Ong made pointed remarks about the Group’s increasing needs for satellite capacity. “As we use capacity we will have choices, and with the launch of our HD channels, we will need solutions,” said Ong. “We are in constant conversation with our existing partner and will work with them first.” Other satellite operators are known to be wooing STAR, which has a long-standing business relationship with AsiaSat. Ong later told Television Asia Plus that apart from the two new HD channels, a number of other new developments are on the horizon including a brand revamp and new hire for English-language GE channel STAR World. Ong says she expects increasing content synergies between STAR Taiwan and mainland China; and in India, four new regional language channels and new shows for Hindi GE channel STAR Plus.