Star Chinese Channel
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (June 2024) |
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| Country | Greater China (21 October 1991-30 March 1996) Republic of China (Taiwan) (30 March 1996-31 December 2023) |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Taiwan (21 October 1991-31 December 2023) |
| Headquarters | British Hong Kong (1991-30 March 1996) Taipei, Taiwan (30 March 1996-31 December 2023) |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Cantonese (21 October 1991-30 March 1996) Mandarin (21 October 1991-31 December 2023) |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 480i for the SD feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company (Taiwan) Ltd (Disney International Operations) |
| Sister channels | Star Chinese Movies Star World Star Movies Gold & Star Movies HD |
| History | |
| Launched | 21 October 1991[1] |
| Closed | 31 March 1996 (Mainland China) 2 July 2020 (SD, Brunei) 19 September 2021 (Transvision in Indonesia feed) 1 October 2021 (Unifi TV in Malaysia feed and Singtel TV in Singapore feed) 31 January 2022 (Astro in Malaysia feed) 30 September 2023 (Southeast Asia and Hong Kong) 31 December 2023 (Taiwan) |
| Replaced by | Phoenix Chinese Channel (Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China) KMTV (Taiwan) |
| Former names | Star TV Chinese Channel (21 October 1991-31 December 2000) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Star Chinese Channel (Chinese: 衛視中文台) was a Taiwanese general entertainment television channel operated by The Walt Disney Company (Taiwan) Ltd. Its programming featured dramas, variety shows, lifestyle programs, and talk shows in Mandarin.
Launched on 21 October 1991 at 16:30 Hong Kong Time by its predecessor, Star TV, the channel initially targeted audiences in Greater China, broadcasting in both Mandarin and Cantonese. However, on 30 March 1996, it reduced its broadcasting area to Taiwan and switched to Mandarin-only programming.
Star Chinese Channel, along with its sister channel, Star Entertainment Channel, ceased operations on 1 January 2024, as Disney further expanded its Disney+ streaming platform.
History
[edit]The fourth of the five original channels of Star TV,[1] Star Chinese Channel was launched on 21 October 1991 at 16:30 Hong Kong Time as STAR TV Chinese Channel. Initially, it targeted audiences across Greater China, broadcasting in both Mandarin and Cantonese.
Star Chinese Channel was introduced as a 24-hour Mandarin-language variety entertainment channel, featuring full Chinese-language content primarily provided by ATV in Hong Kong and broadcasting from Mainland China. It also aired television series from other regions in Greater China, including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore. Additionally, it was the first commercially owned television channel to broadcast in Taiwan.
Originally a free-to-air channel, Star TV later encrypted its signal. Until 30 March 1996 at 19:00 Hong Kong Time, the channel was broadcast across Greater China. On that date, Star TV regionalized STAR TV Chinese Channel, reducing its broadcast area to Taiwan only. Viewers outside Taiwan were instead provided access to Phoenix Chinese Channel.
At one point, the channel's operations were relocated from British Hong Kong to Taipei on 30 June 1997.
Shiau Hong-chi stated that Star TV's original business strategy was to broadcast popular American shows to Taiwanese audiences with minimal effort. However, he argued that this plan was unsuccessful, forcing Star TV to invest in localized branches such as Star Chinese Channel and Channel V Taiwan, as well as produce local programming.[2]
As Disney, which had previously acquired FOX International Networks, decided to further expand Disney+ across Asian markets, it made the decision to shut down its entire cable TV network, including Star Chinese Channel.
The channel had already ceased operations in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Macau on 1 October 2023, while Taiwan was the final market to see its closure. Star Chinese Channel, along with its sister channel Star Entertainment Channel, officially shut down in Taiwan on 1 January 2024.[3][4] Following its closure, the channel in Taiwan was later replaced by KMTV.[5]
Feeds
[edit]| Country/Region | Date |
|---|---|
 Taiwan
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 Mainland China
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International Feed:
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Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia:
Australia, New Zealand: 21 October 1991–2018 USA and Canada: 21 October 1991–2018 Middle East, South Africa and UK: 21 October 1991–30 September 2023 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "SBC and HK's Star TV in new tie-up". The Straits Times. 1 November 1991. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ Shiau, Hong-chi. Animating the cute, the mean and the beautiful: the production and consumption of animation: Taiwan's struggles in the age of globalization. Saarbrucken [Germany]: VDM, Verlag Dr. Muller. 2008. ISBN 3639093976
- ^ Frater, Patrick (June 14, 2023). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ "迪士尼集團11頻道退出台灣，國家地理頻道、衛視中文台等最晚年底將下架". The News Lens (in Chinese (Taiwan)). June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ "拜拜衛視中文台！韓國娛樂台登上部分有線電視31頻道". UDN News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official website (Taiwan)