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.
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'sNews Corporation purchased 63.6% of STAR for over $500 million, followed by the purchase of the remaining 34.6% in July 1995. [1][2]
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.
STAR controls over 20,000 hours of Indian and Chinese programming and also owns the world's largest 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was unhappy with BBC coverage and threatened to block Star TV in the huge mainland Chinese market if the BBC was not withdrawn.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]
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
Channels provided
STAR Chinese Channel - Mandarin general entertainment channel for audiences in Taiwan. It is one of the five original STAR TV channels when it launched in 1991.
STAR Chinese Movies 2 - Cantonese and Mandarin movie channel that shows popular Chinese box-office hits from the 1970?s to 1990?s. Currently available in Singapore, Hong Kong and U.S.
STAR World - popular U.S. and British entertainment programming broadcast to Asia. Formerly known as STAR Plus.
STAR Plus - One of India's most popular Hindi general entertainment channel. It was one of the five original STAR TV channels when it launched in 1991, and was catering to English language entertainment (which then became STAR World).
STAR Utsav - in Hindi. It shows some of the popular programs from STAR Plus.
STAR One - Niche Hindi general entertainment channel.
Xing Kong - Mandarin general entertainment channel in Mainland China.
Channel V - the former MTV Southeast Asia, it broadcasts music television channels. Its main Channel [V] International hub used to be in Hong Kong but has since relocated to Malaysia. There are local Channel [V] channels such as Channel [V] India, Channel [V] Mainland China, Channel [V] Australia, Channel [V] Thailand, Channel [V] Korea and Channel [V] Taiwan. (Channel [V] Philippines was launched through STAR TV and GMA Network, but was soon scrapped).
ESPN - broadcast by ESPN STAR Sports, a Joint Venture with ESPN Inc.
STAR Sports - a sports channel which is the evolution of Prime Sports, devoted to different sporting events, such as cricket, auto racing, golf, and many more. Associated with ESPN in Asia.
Fox Crime - is the first and only 24-hour factual and fictional entertainment television channel dedicated to crime, investigation and mystery. Available in Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. Soon Available in Malaysia, Thailand, India, Middle East and South Korea.
FX - a 24-hour channel offering a broad mix programming targeted at male audiences including comedy, action sports, drama series, reality shows, cars and swimsuit model programmes. Available in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam only. Soon available in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India.
Fox Sports - a sports channel, available on STAR Select in the Middle East. Soon to open the rest of Asia over AsiaSat 3.
BabyTV - is the first 24-hour, commercial-free channel for children under pre-schoolers. This channel is now available in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore.
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.
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.
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