Disney’s Ashley Judd series Missing to bow in India before the US

Indian pay TV broadcaster Star World is to debut US action series Missing ahead of its debut in the United States after it struck a deal with Disney.

The Ashley Judd-fronted series will launch on Star World on March 11, four days ahead of its bow on US broadcast network ABC.

The move is the latest example of US studios launching their key midseason series internationally ahead of a domestic launch and follows Disney’s debut of legal drama Body of Proof in Italy, Spain and Hungary before the US.

“There is a huge demand for international shows amongst a large number of English-speaking people in India and the audience today is very aware and wants to watch American shows at the same time that they air abroad. That’s the feedback we have,” says Saurabh Yagnik, general manager and senior VP, channels, Star India.

Yagnik added: “This has never been done before. So yes, it is a benchmark symbolising the trend, and the habit of the way television content is consumed in India,” he added.