Star World
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerFox Networks Group (Disney Entertainment)
History
Launched
  • 15 December 1991 (1991-12-15) (Star Entertainment)
  • 1 January 2001 (2001-01-01) (Taiwan; first incarnation)
  • 1 January 2022 (2022-01-01) (Taiwan; second and final incarnation)
ReplacedFox Taiwan (relaunch)
Closed
  • 1 October 2017 (2017-10-01) (Southeast Asia and Hong Kong)
  • 1 February 2020 (2020-02-01) (Taiwan; first incarnation)
  • 15 March 2023 (2023-03-15) (India)
  • 31 December 2023 (2023-12-31) (Taiwan; second and final incarnation)
Replaced byFox Life
BBC Lifestyle (Taiwan)
Former namesStar Entertainment (1991–1992)
Star Plus (1992–1996)

Star World (formerly known as Star Entertainment and Star Plus) is an English language entertainment television channel originally launched on 15 December 1991 by Star TV in Hong Kong as the old iteration of Star Plus.

On 30 March 1996, the channel was split into two, when the former became Star World in East and Southeast Asia part of STAR TV's rebranding, and the latter retained the Star Plus name in India and the Middle East. However, after Star (subsequently acquired by News Corporation) ended its partnership with Zee TV on 30 June 2000, Star Plus was transformed into a Hindi-language channel on 1 July 2000, with Star World being already introduced in the region as an English entertainment replacement.

The channel's programming line-up mostly consists of entertainment television programmes from the United States, the United Kingdom and sometimes Australia and New Zealand to appeal to English-speaking locals.[1]

History

Star World was first launched on 15 December 1991 as Star Entertainment with the first programme being The Bold and the Beautiful. The channel was an 24-hour English language general entertainment channel showed dramas, movie and variety shows from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand with Zee TV being the Hindi language general entertainment channel counterpart. The channel was broadcast across the continent of Asia, reaching from the Far East to the Middle East, as with AsiaSat 1's footprint. Star TV have since regionalised the channel to serve its huge viewerships. On 1 July 1992, Star Entertainment was officially renamed as Star Plus.

Star Entertainment was also backed by two major Hollywood conglomerate film studios and television production companies including 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) and 20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television).

On 1 May 1994, All movies that were backed by one major Hollywood conglomerate film studio, 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) were moved from Star Plus to Star Movies due to Star Movies' launch. Star Plus continue to be an English language general entertainment channel.

On 30 March 1996, STAR TV split Star Plus' beam into two, in effect, providing two separate services for different regional audiences within STAR TV's footprint. This enabled the channel to provide appropriate programming and viewing time for viewers from different regions in Asia. Star Plus would serve viewers in India and the Middle East from then on, while the new Star World channel welcomed those in East and Southeast Asia. Star TV converted Star Plus into Hindi entertainment channel with some English content programming. Earlier, STAR TV had a joint venture with Zee Telefilms which uplinked Hindi channel Zee TV from Hong Kong. But that partnership with that channel ended on 30 June 2000, resulted the new Star World channel as English entertainment replacement on 1 July 2000 for India and the Middle East.

On 1 October 2017, Hong Kong and Southeast Asian version of Star World was rebranded to Fox Life,[2] in which the earlier channel was later announced to shut down on October 1, 2021.[3]

On 1 February 2020, the Taiwanese version closed down and some programs were moved to Fox. And than on January 1, 2022, Fox Taiwan was renamed as Star World. As Disney, who had previously brought FOX International Networks, decided to further enroll Disney+ across the Asian markets, they had decided to discontinue their entire pay TV networks, including Star World in Taiwan. The channel has ceased the second time on January 1, 2024;[4][5] with BBC Lifestyle as their replacement.[6]

Star World brand remains on air only in the Middle East and North Africa.

Operating channel

  • Star World Middle East & North Africa - broadcast times KSA, UAE; including Channel [V] programs

Former channels

  • Star World Taiwan - broadcast at UTC+08:00 NST; select programs are not the same as the Asia feed, including local advertisements. The channel ceased operations on 1 January 2024.[7]
  • Star World Vietnam - broadcast times VN; selected programs are not the same as the Asia feed, including local commercials. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2017.
  • Star World HD Asia - same as the Asia feed except for the logo and commercial feed; available in selected territories only. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2017.
  • Star World Asia - broadcast times HKT/SIN and JKT/BKK. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2017.
  • Star World Philippines - broadcast times PH; selected programs are not the same as Asia feed including local commercials and few of the local programs; a subsidiary of Fox Networks Group Philippines. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2017.
  • Star World HD Philippines - same as the Philippines feed except for the logo and commercial feed; launched on 1 March 2012; a subsidiary of Fox Networks Group Philippines. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2017.
  • Star World HD Vietnam - same as the Vietnam feed except for the logo and commercial feed. The channel ceased operations on 1 October 2017.
  • Star World HD India - same as the India feed except for the logo and commercial feed; launched on 15 April 2011; only available in India and Nepal. The channel ceased operations on 15 March 2023.[8]
  • Star World Premiere HD - broadcast times IST; a premium channel launched on 26 September 2013 in India offering the latest seasons of the biggest shows in American television. The channel ceased operations on 15 March 2023.[8]
  • Star World India - broadcast times IST; this has different content from the other feeds; this is the only feed managed by Star India (not by Fox Networks Group). The channel ceased operations on 15 March 2023.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Star World". Fox International Channels. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Turn on as Star World rebrands to FOX life – InqPOP!". InqPOP!. 2 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Middleton, Richard (28 April 2021). "Disney to close 18 channels in Asia as streaming focus expands". Digital TV Europe. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Frater, Patrick (14 June 2023). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "迪士尼集團11頻道退出台灣，國家地理頻道、衛視中文台等最晚年底將下架". The News Lens (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "迪士尼退出後「BBC Studios來了」 2024年登有線電視基本頻道". UDN News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Frater, Patrick (14 June 2023). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "Disney Star brings curtains down on English GECs; launches 9 new channels: Best Media Info". Best Media Info. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
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