Star, Aaj Tak scotch sale rumours

new delhi: tv today network said that its hindi news channel aaj tak is not up for sale. company officials stressed that tv today was not negotiating with star, or any other investor, to dilute its stake in living media's television venture. a spokesperson for star india also denied that the murdoch-controlled broadcaster is planning to acquire a stake in aaj tak.they were reacting to recent reports that a deal was in the offing. ''it is absurd. we have never talked to star to sell aaj tak,'' said tv today network's ceo g krishnan. ''we are the most successful tv news channel. we have cornered 60 per cent of the news audience and 64 per cent of the ad pie. why should we sell aaj tak?,'' affirmed krishnan. he did add that after strengthening the internal infrastructure, the company would look at launching an english news channel in the next 12-14 months, besides expanding into regional markets. speculation has been mounting in anticipation of star india's troubled content contract with prannoy roy's ndtv expiring in march 2003. says a star spokesperson, ''this is speculation, and we are not talking to tv today for buying a majority stake.'' while india today group's living media holds 77 per cent in tv today, icici and sunil mittal's bharti enterprises control 10 per cent each. tv today officials said that only 3.3 per cent stake is to be diluted. if so, the first preference would be existing shareholders.