Star World

Star World is a 24-hour Asian English language cable and satellite television channel owned by STAR TV and Fox Networks Group, two subsidiaries of 21st Century Fox. It is the successor to Star Plus, which is now one of its sister channels. The channel mostly syndicates popular shows from the United States, the United Kingdom and sometimes Australia to appeal to English-speaking locals as well as the expatriate population of South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.^[1]

History

Star World It was first launched on 15 December 1991, and is a 24-hour English-language television channel showcasing international content from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia with Zee TV being the Hindi satellite television channel. Its India counterpart was Zee Telefilm and India was Zee TV. After STAR TV ended its partnership with Zee Telefilm, STAR Plus started telecasting the 1991 British comedy television programme series Mr. Bean (from ITV) with English dubbing and Chinese subtitles while STAR News showed the delayed telecasts of English news programmes.

Almost three years later, in 1991, STAR Plus officially 'split' its beam, in effect, providing two separate services for different regional audiences within the STAR TV Network footprint. This enables the channel to provide appropriate programming and viewing time for viewers from different regions in Asia.

Operating channels

Although the channel shows the same programming, they mostly differ when it comes to showtimes.

• Star World Asia - broadcast times HKT/SIN and WIB/BKK; simulcast with the Middle East feed at 24:00 to 06:00 (HK/SIN)
• Star World India - broadcast times IND; this has different content from the other feeds; this is the only feed managed by Star India (not by Fox Networks Group)
• Star World HD Middle East & North Africa - broadcast times KSA, UAE; including Channel [V] programs
• 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
• Star World Taiwan - broadcast times NST; selected programs are not same as the Asia feed, including local commercials
• Star World Vietnam - broadcast times VN; selected programs are not same as the Asia feed, including local commercials
• Star World HD Asia - same as the Asia feed except for the logo and commercial feed; available in selected territories only
• 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
• 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
• Star World HD Vietnam - same as the Vietnam feed except for the logo and commercial feed
• Star World Premiere HD - a premium channel launched on 26 September 2013 in India offering the latest seasons of the biggest shows in American television

Distribution

Station IDs

• From 1995 to 1998, as STAR Plus International and later STAR World Asia, the British-made channel identification for the channel with the voice-over says: "This is the STAR TV Network, and you're watching STAR Plus."
• From 1998 to 30 June 2001, as STAR World Asia, the box-type logo is at the left and the words "STAR" and "WORLD" into "STAR WORLD" are in maroon colour. The hourly channel identification by the male voice-over says: "This is the STAR TV Network, across Asia and the Middle East, you're watching STAR World."
• From 1 July 2001 to 30 April 2005, the station identification said: "This is STAR, and you're with STAR World... STAR World."
• When the channel was re-launched for the third time in May 2005, the song that was played on their SIDs was "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas.
• On 11 December 2006, the song was changed to "Come Rain Come Shine" by Tata Young.
• On 15 June 2007, the song was changed to "Love Today" by Mika.
• On 16 January 2008, the channel was re-launched with its new look. The song was changed to "Chase the Sun" by Planet Funk.
• On October 2008, the STAR World Middle East feed was first to re-launch with its new look including the logo and station ID. However, on 3 November 2008, India, Southeast Asia and the Philippines feeds received the new logo and station ID which the Middle East feed was already using.^[3]
• Each station ID has four different feeds like Asia, India, Middle East and the Philippines.^{[4][5][6][7][8]}
• On 11 November 2010 the channel again on its new look with the Diamond Star (with the trademark swoosh in magenta) under the channel name, the graphics including the website, simultaneously launched both South East Asia (both SD and HD feeds) and the Philippine channel feeds receptively. The Middle East channel officially launched on 1 December 2010. Star World India still uses its older logo as of January 2015.
• Some Channel V International (mostly airs V Tunes in different music genre) music program blocks previously aired in STAR World Philippines channel feed (except in Middle East which is currently on-air) have now been removed and all V Tunes music blocks have been moved to Channel V Philippines, while V Special is the only Channel V music block which remains on-air (renamed as Star World Music Specials), during special times only.
• On August 2, 2013, Star World was once again given a new look. In the Philippines, the logo was adopted in November 2013.

Programming

References

External links

• Star World Taiwan website
• Star World MENA website