Stuart Higgins Communications and David Billington Associates were contacted after the Istanbul Star was launched in conjunction with Star Television in 2003. The TV station went well but the paper did not reach expected heights.. Initial circulation was planned for 1.5 million but this reached only 700,000. At this stage SHC & DBA were contacted. Higgins and Billington worked under difficult conditions (the paper is printed in Turkish!) but with translators and patience were able to provide improved designs and ideas seeing a boost in circulation.