MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

Asia News Service Planned: A consortium of four companies plans to launch a satellite TV news service later this year that will focus on Asian business. Tele-Communications Inc. owns a 36% stake in the venture, called Asia Business News; Television New Zealand also has a 36% stake and will provide management and staff to run operations in Singapore. Other partners in the consortium are Business News Network Inc. of Hong Kong, with an 18% stake, and Singapore International Media Ventures of Singapore, with 10%. The English-language channel will be delivered to markets in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines.