STAR TV (Asia)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Star Group
Founded by Richard Li
Owner News Corporation
Key people Paul Aiello (CEO)
Launch date 1991
Website
www.startv.com

Satellite Television for the Asian Region (STAR) is an Asian TV service owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. It is based in Hong Kong, with programming offices in India and Australia, as well as in other south Asian countries.

According to the STAR website, their service has more than 300 million viewers in 54 countries and is watched by approximately 100 million viewers every day.

STAR's revenues have increased from $220 million in 2003 to $245 million in 2004. STAR has emerged as India's second-largest media company after Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. which is the publisher of Times of India.

STAR TV should not be confused with Star Choice in Canada; neither they nor its parent, Shaw Communications, own any interest in STAR TV.

Contents

[edit] History

The company was launched in 1990 as part of Hutchison Whampoa group. It started broadcasting five television channels in 1991 from AsiaSat 1 Satellite. Launch of StarTV pioneered satellite television in Asia and in the process catalysed explosive growth in the media industry across the entire region.

In 1993 Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation purchased 63.6% of STAR for over $500 million, followed by the purchase of the remaining 34.6% in July 1995. [1] [2]

[edit] Impact

Today STAR broadcasts over 60 services in nine languages. Shows include entertainment, sports, movies, music, news and documentaries.

Reaching more than 300 million viewers in 53 countries across Asia, STAR is watched by approximately 100 million viewers every day.[citation needed]

STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world's largest[citation needed] contemporary Chinese film library, with more than 600 titles, featuring superstars including Jackie Chan, Chow Yun Fat and Bruce Lee. In partnership with leading companies in Asia, STAR businesses extend to filmed entertainment, television production, cable systems and wireless and digital services.

In 1994 STAR removed BBC World Service Television (now BBC World) from the network following demands from the government of the People's Republic of China. It is alleged that the PRC government was unhappy with BBC coverage and threatened to block Star TV in the huge mainland Chinese market if the BBC was not withdrawn. This is despite technology that is capable of blocking BBC World in China, while making it available in other countries they serve. [3] [4] [5]

[edit] Management Team

  • Paul Aiello, Chief Executive Officer
  • Laureen Ong, Chief Operating Officer
  • John Lau, Group Chief Financial Officer
  • Ella Betsy Wong, Executive Vice President & General Counsel
  • Guo Xiao Yong, Chief Technology Officer
  • Edward Hanapole, Chief Information Officer

[edit] Channels provided

[edit] Future Channel

  • Nat Geo Music (Coming Soon In Asia)

[edit] STAR TV's former channels

  • VIVA Cinema - STAR TV's Filipino movie channel, founded with the merger of VIVA Entertainment.
  • BBC World, the former BBC World News Service, and one of the original STAR TV channels when it launched in 1991
  • MTV Southeast Asia - music channel which was once owned jointly with by MTV Networks, and one of the original STAR TV channels when it launched in 1991; but it ended its affiliation in 1994 to broadcast separate ways & it was renamed Channel [V] in May 1994.
  • Prime Sports - the old name of STAR Sports, and one of the first five STAR TV channels
  • Film Indonesia - A 24-hour Indonesian language Movie Channel.
  • STAR Plus Japan - A 24-hour Japanese Entertainment Channel.
  • TechTV - A 24-hour Computer Channel. Formerly seen in Middle East via STAR Select.
  • EL TV - A 24-hour Hindi Entertainment Channel.
  • Zee TV - A former 24-hour Hindi Entertainment Channel. This channel was ended in 1995 and replace by STAR Plus.
  • Zee Cinema - STAR TV's Former 24-hour Hindi Movie Channel. This channel ended in 1995 and replace by STAR Gold.
  • CNBC Asia - Business News Channel launched in 1996, This channel terminated within 2006 replacing CNBC Europe. Formerly Available in the Middle East via STAR Select.
  • CNBC-TV18 - Business News Channel in India, formerly part of STAR TV Packages in Asiasat 3s. This Channel was terminated in September 2006.
  • CNBC Europe - Business News channel, formerly available on STAR Select in the Middle East. This channel was terminated on March 31, 2007.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links