Nautanki.tv Networks Pvt. Ltd, the video distribution start up in which Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd (formerly Virtual Marketing) acquired a majority stake last year, is rapidly scaling up in terms of content offerings. It has struck a deal with Star India Pvt. Ltd, the News Corp (NYSE: NWS). subsidiary that is India’s leading broadcaster, through which some of the country’s most popular television content will now be available on the web through the Nautanki network. The network has some 6,000 widgets through which it serves up video and ads on third party websites and blogs. Bloggers and website owners can sign up with Nautanki to have a video screen embedded on their properties and can earn a share of ad revenues in a deal that is similar in structure to Google’s adsense programme. Nautanki and broadcasters share the remaining revenues.

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The network, which currently has 16 channels to choose from, will have about 100 channels by the end of 2009, CEO Sunil Nair told us. The company is working with the European Broadcast Service and already has live channels in French, Italian, Spanish and German, and will add more foreign languages. Does the Star India deal mean Nautanki can further tap into the larger Star Group, which has Southeast Asia-wide presence, and also the News Corp. empire, with holdings in Fox Network and ITV? “We have had some preliminary discussions along those lines,” Nair said. The company is talking to “almost all” Indian broadcasters and “some of the biggest” global broadcasters, he added.