Star Movies
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
| Programming | |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | English Arabic |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Fox Networks Group Star India |
Star Movies is an Asian movie channel owned by Fox Networks Group and STAR TV, subsidiaries of 21st Century Fox. Star Movies now has been rebranded to Fox Movies Premium on 1 January 2012, therefore affecting its broadcast areas, except in India, China, Vietnam, Middle East, Taiwan and the Philippines.[1]
History
Star Movies was launched on 12 May 1993, replacing BBC World when it was removed from STAR TV because of political reasons. At that time, it screened both Hollywood and Chinese movies and catered to a pan-Asian audience split into two stations: Star Movies (an English movie channel) and Star Chinese Movies (a Hong Kong Cantonese and Mandarin (Taiwan & SE Asia) movie channel).
On 1 August 1994, Star Movies launched a separate channel for viewers in the Persian Gulf region and India, followed by Star Movies International.
It was launched on 31 March 1996 for viewers in Southeast Asia, China, East Asia countries. Star Movies currently has five channels, Star Movies Asia (in Southeast Asia and China), Star Movies Taiwan in Taiwan, Star Movies India, Star Movies MENA and Star Movies Philippines.
Star Movies Philippines was launched on 1 January 2010, its viewers there had previously seen Star Movies International.
Star Movies HD Asia was launched on 1 May 2010.
Star Movies On Demand Asia was launched on 16 September 2010.[2]
On 1 January 2012, Star Movies was rebranded as Fox Movies Premium and available in Hong Kong and selected Southeast Asian countries. The Star Movies brand retained in India, China, Vietnam, Middle East, Taiwan and the Philippines.
Operating channels
Star Movies Asia
Star Movies International was formerly transmitted in Southeast Asia and China. It used to be the only advertisement-free version of Star Movies. Also, unlike other versions of Star Movies, this version also spends minimal time promoting its own upcoming movies. The channel does not air promotions of movies classified as unsuitable for people aged under eighteen, until 8 p.m Hanoi / 9 p.m Beijing.
As of 1 January 2012, Star Movies International (now Star Movies Asia) is limited to subscribers in China and Vietnam due to the replacement of Fox Movies Premium in former countries. Since this time, and due to regulations of localization and editing the content before broadcasting in China and Vietnam, the channel is now deeply localized with local-language advertisements and introductions on the break.
In the Vietnamese feed, Star Movies also airs a program called "Thảm đỏ (Red Carpet)" to introduce the movies which are scheduled to broadcast on the channel, all in Vietnamese language and hosted by Vietnamese presenters. After the rebranding of Star Movies to Fox Movies Premium due to the high subscription charges in Nepal and Sri Lanka, STAR TV found it viable to officially replace the commercial-free Fox Movies Premium channel with the advert-supported Indian version of Star Movies. However, after Star Movies India decided to plug off their service from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Fox Movies Premium have decided to add Nepal and Sri Lanka to its territories in near future.
Star Movies India
Star Movies India is transmitted in India, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The channel has higher ratings in India than HBO South Asia, the only region where Star Movies enjoys a lead in the viewer ratings. The channel is available on all DTH platforms across India and as part of the Star India bouquet. The programme "Hollywood Premiere" of this channel premieres the latest Hollywood movies every weekend. This is the only beam that is managed by STAR TV and not Fox International Channels.
On 1 February 2015 Star Movies India pulled out of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan viewers used to enjoy Star Movies Asia but with the rebranding to Fox Movies Premium the Sri Lankan territory was handed to India. Now without Star Movies the viewers have no access to the movies broadcast by it.[citation needed]
Star Movies MENA
Star Movies has an Arabic subtitled movie channel for viewers in the Middle East and North Africa region (except for Israel). The channel is available on both OSN and beIN.
Star Movies Taiwan
An advert-supported version of Star Movies is targeted towards Taiwan specifically. It is the most localized version of Star Movies, since most voice-overs in promotions for up-coming movies are in Mandarin Chinese. The channel also comes with Chinese subtitles.
Star Movies Philippines
Star Movies International began broadcasting to the Philippines on 30 November 2009 with local advertisements during and after the featured movie. The channel was simulcast with the Southeast Asia and China feed until 31 December 2009; a Philippines exclusive channel was launched on 1 January 2010.[3] It also has English subtitles daily. Unlike most feeds in Pan-Asian region, it has local commercials when the movie is taking a break. The channel typically broadcasts action, comedy, animation and horror/suspense films every day and drama films on early morning.
Star Movies HD
Star Movies International official launched their own HD (High Definition) channel in Asia on 1 May 2012. This channel is now available in AsiaSat 5. It now shares the same schedule via regular STAR Movies International, but is different in advertisement (including their logo, with the HD mark at the upper right side of the screen). This channel is currently available in Taiwan and India only. Star Movies India, launched their HD feed along with STAR TV India HD channels on 15 October 2013
On 15 July 2011, Star Movies HD Taiwan was officially launched separate from the Asian feed. However, the said channel features a different TV schedule from the regular STAR Movies Taiwan feed. Star Movies HD logo feature a 3D diamond star with the trademark swoosh in blue and the name of the channel in Gotham font, similar to the logo of sister channel, Star World.
On 1 January 2012, Star Movies HD was rebranded to Fox Movies Premium HD in selected Asian territories (but did not apply in Vietnam and China).
Star Movies HD used to be available in Sri Lanka through the Dialog TV Platform. This was launched officially on 17 June 2012. The channel pulled out 3 years later on 1 Feb 2015. Leaving Sri Lanka with no Fox/Star branded movie channel, the region used to receive Star Movies Asia but was replaced with the Indian Star Movies HD since Star Movies Asia rebranded as Fox Movies Premium HD.
Star Movies Action
Star Movies Action was formerly known as Fox Action Movies and was temporarily closed on 11 May 2013. Relaunched on 2 June 2013 as Star Movies Action, the channel contains only action theme movies.[4][5]
See also
References
- ^ "SMV changed to FMP". NST. 3 January. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ STAR Movies HD in Asiasat 5 retrieved via www.lyngsat.com 05-26-2010
- ^ Star Movies Philippines in Lyngsat retrieved via www.lyngsat.com 11-24-2009
- ^ Star Movies Action to replace Fox Action Movies retrieved via http://www.bestmediainfo.com 10-20-2013
- ^ Star India gears-up for more action; All set to launch Star Movies Action retrieved via http://www.adgully.com 10-22-2013
