MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media (MSM) has poached Saurabh Yagnik to head its English movie channel Pix.

Yagnik was heading rival network Star India?s English channels portfolio, including Star Movies, for over two years.

Yagnik replaces Sunder Aaron, who left Pix earlier this year. Aaron had helped launch Pix in 2006.

Rasika Tyagi has replaced Yagnik at Star. Hitherto, Tyagi was senior VP - English programming.

Yagnik?s task is to help Pix move ahead of its rivals - Star Movies and Movies Now. Pix got its parent Sony?s library last year and moved from a library-based to a contemporary movie channel.

Yagnik?s challenge will be to sustain Pix?s upward climb in a dynamic market. Pix, which has even reached the second position in the English movie channel ratings ladder, plans to step up its persistent campaign to oust the market leader.

MUMBAI: English GEC Star World has announced that for the first time it will air an international show before its global launch.

?Missing?, an espionage drama, kicks off on 12 March at 9 pm. The series will launch simultaneously on both Star World and Star Movies.

The show stars Ashley Judd, Sean Bean and Cliff Curtis.

The show revolves around Becca Winstone, played by Judd, who is in search of her missing son. It soon becomes clear that this isn?t any ordinary woman, but a former CIA agent who will stop at nothing to bring her son home alive. There are exotic locations and thrilling twists in ?Missing?.

Star India GM, senior VP, English channels Saurabh Yagnik said, "It has been our constant endeavor to bring new Hollywood shows to India to match their date and time in the US. As leaders in the category, we are proud to host the world television premiere of Hollywood?s biggest show Missing in India, four days before the US. This initiative is bound to reaffirm our commitment to our viewers and boost Star World?s perception as the ultimate destination for fresh Hollywood shows."

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