Star Chinese Channel
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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 | 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 at 11:59:59pm Taiwan Time (Taiwan) |
| Replaced by | Phoenix Chinese Channel (Mainland China) |
| Former names | Star TV Chinese Channel (21 October 1991-31 December 2000) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Star Chinese Channel (Chinese: 衛視中文台) is a Taiwanese general entertainment television channel operated by The Walt Disney Company (Taiwan) Ltd. Its programming features drama, variety, lifestyle, and talk shows in Mandarin. Launched on 21 October 1991 at 16:30 Hong Kong Time by its predecessor Star TV, the channel originally targeted audiences in Greater China broadcasting in both Mandarin and Cantonese, before it reduced broadcasting area to just Taiwan and began broadcasting only in Mandarin on 30 March 1996.
History
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, the channel originally targeted audiences in Greater China, broadcasting in both Mandarin and Cantonese. Star Chinese Channel was launched as a 24-hour Mandarin Chinese variety entertainment channel that the channel showcased full Chinese language content provided by ATV in Hong Kong broadcasting from Mainland China; also showed television series from other Greater China countries including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore. It was also the first commercial broadcasting-owned channel to broadcast in Taiwan. It was a free-to-air channel, but at some point, Star TV encrypted the channel. The channel was previously broadcast across Greater China on 30 March 1996 at 19:00 Hong Kong Time, Star TV split STAR TV Chinese Channel by certain areas and reduced its broadcasting area to just Taiwan (Viewers in Greater China apart from Taiwan were offered Phoenix Chinese Channel instead).
At one point, the channel's business was moved from British Hong Kong to Taipei on 30 June 1997.
Shiau Hong-chi says that the original business for Star TV was to broadcast popular American shows to Taiwanese audience with as less effort as possible. Shiau then argues that however the plan was unsuccessful and Star TV had to invest on localized branches such as Chinese Channel and Channel V Taiwan and make local shows.[2]
As Disney, owner of the Star brand, making the decision to further enrolled the Disney+ streaming platform, they've decided to ceased the transmission for Star Chinese Channel along with both National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild, two years after they announced to closing down dozens of Disney/Fox linear channels across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau. Star Chinese Channel officially closing transmission and broadcasting based in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau on 30 September 2023 at 11:59:59pm Hong Kong/Singapore Time and Star Chinese Channel officially closing transmission and broadcasting based in Taiwan on New Year's Eve 2023 at 11:59:59pm Taiwan Time.[3] The channel closures announcement has already affecting Taiwanese cable TV industry as they also planned to closing down other Disney-owned linear TV channels on the same date, which include Star Chinese Movies, Star World and even Star Movies networks (Gold for the cable TV and separated HD feed for CHT MOD platform).[4] On Sunday, New Year's Eve (31 December) 2023 at 11:59:59pm Taiwan Time, Star Chinese Channel and Star Entertainment Channel officially ceased transmission and broadcasting after officially formal ceasing ceremony took place in held at Taiwan after two very final and last programme aired are Oh My Venus (Star Chinese Channel) and My Secret Romance (Star Entertainment Channel) and after final and last showing the message with Chinese above (本頻道將不再提供服務感謝您長期支持與收看; pinyin: Běn píndào jiāng bù zài tígōng fúwù gǎnxiè nín chángqí zhīchí yú shōukàn) and the English below (This channel is no longer available, thank you for watching.). All officially moved to Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar and All Star Chinese Channel and Star Entertainment Channel officially moved, transferred and shift to officially handover and replaced by Phoenix Chinese Channel took place.
Feeds
| 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: 2006 - 30 September 2023 Australia, New Zealand: 2013 - 2018 USA and Canada: 2008 - 2018 Middle East, South Africa and UK: 2013 - 30 September 2023 |
References
- ^ 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.
External links
- Official website (Taiwan)