It isn't just the software being subjected to continuous competitiveness on the main channels. The people behind the scenes are also flying back and forth at a rapid speed.

Last year, one of STAR's top executives Tarun Katial broke away from his parent channel STAR to join Sony Entertainment.

Ever since, Tarun has been on a mission "to do a Star" on Sony. The very successful "Indian Idol", "Fame Gurukul" and now the R. Madhavan game show "Deal Ya No Deal" are all Tarun's brainchildren.

The latest buzz is over STAR's vice-president of publicity and press relations Shola Rajachandran quitting the network. Shola, as any mediaperson in Mumbai would tell you, was invaluable in building STAR's rapport with the press. She had been with the channel from the time it came to India.

What prompted the surprising exeunt? Shola refuses to get into the nitty-gritty.

"I worked tirelessly with the channel. Now I felt it was time to move on, explore other possibilities."

Shola, who resigned on Nov 15, has a number of lucrative offers from other channels, which she is seriously considering.

The rumors are that Sony will finally absorb her.