Malaysia-based Astro is being linked to the buy-out of STAR Group’s 25.9 per cent stake in Balaji Telefilms – less than a year after STAR and Balaji announced their joint venture intentions. Regional dialect-language channels were among proposed projects after STAR and Balaji Telefilms made a joint announcement Q4 2007. STAR COO Laureen Ong told Television Asia Plus that the Group “will be launching four regional language channels in India” but did not say when, or whether Balaji Telefilms still feature in those plans. Reliance Entertainment and Eros International have also been linked to buying out STAR’s stake, although Balaji are believed to have first buy back rights. Astro already holds stakes in Red FM and in DTH venture Sun Direct.