Following the end of the partnership with Star India, NDTV began its venture as an independent broadcaster. The company had acquired equity capital from investment banks including Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. Standard Chartered invested US$12 million and acquired a share of 12% in the company. Media commentators at the time had speculated that Star News would remain the market leader and decimate NDTV. Before the launch of the network's independent channels under its own brand, it had invested US$25 million into advertising. For distribution, it entered into a tie up with the network of One Alliance, a joint venture between Sony and Discovery, Inc.