Star Channel
| Star Channel | |
|---|---|
|
Star Channel 2014 logo | |
| Launched | 4 December 1993 |
| Owned by | New Television S.A (100%) (Vardinoyannis Group) |
| Picture format |
576i (SDTV) 16:9 1080i (HDTV) 16:9 |
| Audience share | 18.2% (23/9/2013 - 29/9/2013, http://www.agb.gr/gr/data/default.htm) |
| Slogan | Στα καλύτερα λέμε STAR (In the best we stay 'STAR') |
| Country | Greece |
| Language | Greek |
| Broadcast area | Internationally |
| Formerly called | Channel 29 |
| Website | www.star.gr/tv |
Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| DIGEA | Channel 13, 47, 29 |
| Satellite | |
| NOVA Greece | Channel 107 |
| OTE TV | Channel 108 |
Star Channel is a Greek television network that broadcasts a mix of foreign and Greek programming. It launched in December 1993 and is owned by Nea Tileorasi A.E. The Star Channel's logo is a row of six rhomboid-shapes of orange, red, magenta, blue, green, and yellow, which form part of a stylized star. This multicolored half star bears a resemblance to the multicolored peacock in the logo of the NBC television network in the United States.
Star Channel is known in Greece mostly for its programming style, both in terms of live shows and news content, with increased focus on lifestyle, showbiz, gossip and fashion news, and on "comedic" presentation.
In 2010, Star Channel staff was escorted out of the Eurovision Song Contest by police after accusations were made that it was transmitting footage from the dress rehearsal illegally.
In 2013, Star Channel started combining information with entertainment, resulting in the channel's shift to a more serious tone. Star Channel generated €64 million in net profit in 2014 which represents a 32.2% increase from the previous year.
History
Star Channel was launched in December 1993 to compete with Mega Channel, ANT1, Alpha TV, and ERT Channels. It began broadcasting children's programs as well as foreign series. In 1994 – Star Channel began to exchange family/children's programs from Alpha, then known as Skai (Greek spelling of Sky) with Star's children's programming.
Star Channel made its international debut in2005, joining the UBI World TV platform, which made Star Channel available to viewers in Australia as well as in Asia and Africa. UBI World TV launched in New Zealand in 2008 making Star International available there.
In 2010, Star staff were forcibly removed from the Eurovision Song Contest and banned by the European Broadcasting Union for three years for illegally airing a live feed of the Eurovision dress rehearsals from the Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
In March 2011 Star Channel began showing some of its programs in 16:9 – mostly television series and films – and as of April, it switched to 16:9 for all its programming, including its own shows and news broadcasts.
In March 2016, Star Channel started its pilot broadcast of STAR HD (1080i) through Digea in Attica and Central Macedonia on February 27, 2016.
Programming
Star Channel airs 24/7 news, shows, movies and foreign series. Τhe network also airs a six-hour weekend morning animation block called "StarLand".
As of October 2014, current programming for the 2014–2015 broadcasting season includes:
News and information
Live U, hosted by Popi Tsapanidou, is an information show focusing on the social, political, and financial news of the day. It offers viewers the opportunity to communicate directly using the Internet enabling guests/congressmen to answer their questions . Mia (One) includes discussions about various issues in womens' lives: men, beauty tips, decoration, cooking, relationships, sex, kids etc. and includes showbiz guests. It also provides information about major news stories of the day. It is hosted by Tatiana Stefanidou. FM Live features lifestyle issues from Greece and abroad. Hosted by Fotis Sergoulopoulos and Maria Bakodimou. Star Eidiseis (Star News) is a newscast featuring the top headlines from Greece and abroad, including entertainment and sports news, with a focus mainly on financial, political and social issues. Its main news anchor is Mara Zaharea on weekdays, and Panagiotis Stathis on weekends. The main commentator is Nikos Hatzinikolaou. Ston Eniko is a current affairs talk show with a focus on political issues hosted by Nikos Hatzinikolaou.
Television series
Cypriot
9 Mines (9 months) is a Cypriot, daily soap opera which premiered in September 2015.
Foreign
Foreign programming aired by Star includes: Friends, House, Kuzey Güney, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Life, Mike & Molly, Nikita, Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki, Without a Trace, and Smallville.
Star International
Star International was launched in November 2005 and airs the "best of" Star Channel programming to Greeks in the Asia Pacific region, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.}
Star International is currently available to viewers in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Asia through TV Plus; it operates on a 24-hour schedule.
In October 2009, Star International officially launched in North America, available exclusively on RCN Cable in the United States but in June 2010, RCN Cable dropped the channel due to the low number of subscriptions.
In May 2011, Star International re-launched in the US, and was made available via satellite on the Home2US platform. In late 2012, Home2US ceased operations. The channel is currently available in North America through IPTV provider Ellas TV.
On 23 September 2014, Star International launched in Canada via Bell Fibe TV.
Logos
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| 18/08/2003-13/09/2014 | 13/09/2014–present |
External links
- Official website (Greek)
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