Star Movies
| Headquarters | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | STAR TV |
STAR Movies is an Asian movie channel owned by STAR TV.
It features movies from American film companies such as Disney, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Miramax Films, MGM, Universal Pictures, Canal Plus and other movie distributors. It is a Hollywood movie channel which gives a stiff competition to HBO Asia.
STAR Movies has first-run contracts for movies distributed by 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista International, MGM and Studio Canal and sub-run contracts for movies from Columbia Pictures and Universal Pictures for countries where STAR Movies is available.
It is noted for airing the hit American television series, Lost, which is currently in its second season in India.
It is available in Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Middle East, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.
Several commercial breaks are seen during movies in the Indian feed. The Asian feed does not have such interruptions.
Operating Channels
STAR Movies International
This beam is targeted towards Southeast Asia and China Feed. This beam is the only advertisement free version of Star Movies. Unlike the rest of the versions of Star Movies, this version also spends minimal time even for its movie promos. The channel also doesn't air movies classified 18 or above. All promos aired on this channel are in Hong Kong and Malaysia times.
This was the original Star Movies that was later re launched with total customization for the South East Asian markets. Due to the severe unpopularity of Star Movies India, in countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Star TV has officially replaced the Indian beam with the South East Asian beam in those countries. Star Movies SEA has some locally produced shows such as VIP Access, The Ticket.
This channel also holds the record of showing all 21 James Bond movies back to back and as of recent the X Men trilogy. (This fact is only endorsed by the channel's on air promos)
STAR Movies India
This beam is targeted towards India and the rest of South Asia. As of late the beam is only present in Nepal and Bhutan outside India. This beam has many advertisement breaks during films, creating an annoying viewer experience. As most Indian channels share this disadvantage, Indian viewers are forced to bear with it. The channel has higher TAM ratings in India over HBO South Asia. This is the only region where Star Movies enjoys a lead in the viewer ratings.
Star Movies India is available on all DTH platforms across India and is available as part of the Star India bouquet. It is also among the most popular English movie channels in India and carried by most cable operators in the country.
However in contrast to STAR Movies International the number of new movies premiered are comparatively less in number.
STAR Movies Middle East
This beam is targeted towards the Middle East. Movies aired on this beam are very sub-standard. The channel comes with Arabic subtitles. Since the middle east is a very culturally sensitive area, a lot of censorship is imposed on the movies. Most of the movies aired on the channel are old since the channel doesn't own the license to air most movies while they are new in the region. Due to the unpopularity of Star Movies India in Pakistan. Star TV has replaced it with the Middle East version.
STAR Movies Taiwan
This beam is targeted towards Taiwan specifically. This beam is advertisement supported but does not air many adverts like the Indian version. This is the most localized version of Star Movies, since most voice overs in promos aired are in the local language. This channel also comes with Chinese subtitles.
VIVA CINEMA
STAR TV's 24-hour Filipino language encrypted movie channel
STAR's fourth encrypted movie service, VIVA Cinema, launched on 6 May 1996. VIVA Cinema, a joint venture between STAR TV and the Manila-based VIVA Communications, is the world's first Filipino-language movie channel. It is a digitally encrypted, subscription film channel available on the STAR TV ASiaSat 2 platform. Pulling from VIVA's film library, the largest in the Philippines with over a thousand titles in stock, VIVA Cinema offers at least 300 Filipino films a year, many of which are television premiers. The channel provides viewers with round-the-clock high-quality Filipino film entertainment, seven days a week.
VIVA Cinema showcases the motion pictures which, throughout VIVA Films' 15-year history, have made the company synonymous with quality filmmaking and vast box-office appeal. These titles include blockbusters, current and all time favourites, plus new movies from great award-winning Filipino directors like Eddie Garcia, Joel Lamangan and Lino Brocka providing unlimited choice from action to drama, comedy, romance, fantasy and thrillers.
Each month viewers can enjoy specially designed "thematic packages" focusing on a particular actor, director or genre. Fans of box-office draws such as Sharon Cuneta, Philip Salvador, Alice Dixon, Andrew E., and Robin Padillia can enjoy a season of these stars' films, as well as many others featuring popular Filipino stars.
VIVA Cinema produces much of its own interviews, played in between each movie, bringing viewers up-to-date on what is happening in the industry, who is currently popular at the box-office and what films are in production.
VIVA Cinema can be seen throughout the Philippines, across the Middle East, Brunei, USA and Guam, and continues to expand its coverage.
ITO ANG PINOY!
Trivia
- STAR Movies was the first ever pay channel in India.
- The English STAR Movies is the first movie channel to show all James Bond films.
History
STAR Movies was launched in 1994 that time the channel was replacing BBC World. At that time it used to screen both English and Chinese movies and catered for the pan-Asian audience. In 1997 STAR Movies launched a separate beam for audiences in the Gulf and India, followed by STAR Movies International which was launched in 1998 for viewers in Southeast Asia and selected east Asian countries like China. Today STAR Movies has 4 channels including STAR Movies International (Southeast Asia/China Feed), STAR Movies Taiwan, STAR Movies India and STAR Movies Middle East (once tie-up with India feed, now a separate channel for viewers in Gulf region). But unlike STAR Movies India, the movies on STAR Movies Middle East are quite sub-standard.[citation needed]