The date: 11 January 2001. Peter Mukerjea has been in power packed meetings in Hong Kong with Star TV Asia senior management which includes CEO James Murdoch, president & COO Bruce Churchill, among others. He took time out from his back-to-back schedule to have a few words with indiantelevision.com on his being voted as the Television Executive of the year 2000 by 3,835 visitors who took part in the poll. Excerpts:

What do you have to say about being voted as the TV executive of 2000?

Well, it's going to be hard to continue to live up to that role. But I'd like to thank everybody who voted me for this honour. Star TV India's performance in the past few months has really been the effort of a bunch of people; it has been a team effort. I have just been a part of that.

Going ahead from here what challenges do you foresee?

There's a lot of work to do. We are poised at an interesting time for the industry. There are plenty of challenges. There is direct to home television, there is broadband. We have to increase cable TV subscription revenues, advertising revenues for the network.

What if some adverse regulation is passed against Star TV? Do you see that as a challenge?

Regulation is like death and taxes; you have to live within them. Fortunately for us, if a law is passed against foreign broadcasters or programmers it will impact everyone else who operates like us too.

What is your vision for Star TV India?

We have to continuously and consistently lead the pack as far as programming - quality of programming - is concerned. That will really keep us ahead of everyone else.