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{{short description|Indian television channel}}
{{short description|Television channel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more citations needed|date=May 2015}}
{{Original research|date=August 2016}}
}}
{{Infobox television channel
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Star Movies
| name = Star Movies
| logo = STAR Movies logo.svg
| logo = [[File:Star Movies 2023.svg|125px]]<hr />[[File:Star Movies 2024.svg|125px]]<hr /> [[File:STAR Movies logo.svg|125px]]
| image =
| logo_size =  
| logo_size =  
| slogan = Bring Hollywood Home
| image_size =  
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2021|1|10|df=y}} (Changed Channel)
| logo_caption = Logos used in the Balkans and Portugal since 2023; the Middle East since 2024 logo; and India and China since January 1, 2009
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[letterboxed]] [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1994|4|20}} (split from [[Star World|Star Plus]], Taiwan only)<ref name="pay">{{cite news |title=Star TV starting pay movie channel to replace BBC World Service |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19940324-1.2.11.5 |access-date=23 December 2023 |work=The Straits Times |date=24 March 1994}}</ref><br>{{Start date and age|1996|6|1}} (Malaysia)<br>{{Start date and age|2023|10|1}} (Balkans)<br>{{Start date and age|2024|2|7|df=y}} (Portugal)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel|url=https://www.foxtv.pt/especial/perguntas-frequentes-a-fox-vai-ser-star-channel|access-date=2023-11-28 |website=foxtv.pt |language=pt}}</ref>
| type = [[TV channel]]
| closed_date = {{End date and age|2023|12|31|df=y}} (Taiwan)
| country =  
| owner = [[The Walt Disney Company]]
| language = [[English language|English]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| area = Bangladesh<br />India<br />Nepal<br />Sri Lanka<br /> (HD only)
| network = [[Star India]]
| owner           = [[The Walt Disney Company India]]
| former_names = [[BBC World Service Television|BBC World Service Television Asia]]<br />14 October 1991–1 May 1994
| former_names = [[BBC World Service Television|BBC World Service Television Asia]]<br />14 October 1991–1 May 1994
| replaced = [[BBC World Service Television]]<br />14 October 1991–1 May 1994
| replaced = [[BBC World Service Television]]<br />14 October 1991–17 April 1994<ref name="pay" /><br />[[Fox Movies (Balkans)|Fox Movies]] (Balkans and Portugal)
| replaced_by = Fox Movies Premium (2012–2017; Southeast Asia)<br /> [[Fox Movies (Southeast Asian TV channel)|Fox Movies]] (2017; Southeast Asia, Taiwan)
| replaced_by = Fox Movies Premium (2012–2017; Southeast Asia)<br /> [[Fox Movies (Southeast Asian TV channel)|Fox Movies]] (Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan; first incarnation)
| sister_channels = [[Star India#Owned channels|Star India channels]]
| online_serv_1 = [[JioHotstar]]
| headquarters =
| online_chan_1 = India
| timeshift_service =
| web =
| sat_serv_1 = [[Airtel digital TV]]
| sat_chan_1 = Channel 243 (SD) <br /> Channel 244 (HD)
| sat_serv_4 = [[Tata Sky]]
| sat_chan_4 = Channel 402 (HD) <br /> Channel 403 (SD)
| sat_serv_2 = [[Dish TV]]
| sat_chan_2 = Channel 241 (SD) <br /> Channel 548 (HD)
| sat_serv_3 = [[Sun Direct DTH|Sun Direct TV]]
| sat_chan_3 = Channel 404 (SD) <br /> Channel 914 (HD)
| sat_serv_6 = [[Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited]]
| sat_chan_6 = Channel 302 (SD)
<br /> Channel 740 (HD)
| sat_serv_5 = [[Videocon D2H]]
| sat_chan_5 = Channel 241 (SD) <br /> Channel 943 (HD)
| sat_serv_9 = Akash DTH (Bangladesh)
| sat_chan_9 = Channel 254 (India HD)
| cable_serv_1 = [[Hathway]]
| cable_chan_1 = Channel 140
| availability_note =
| cable_serv_2 = [[Asianet Digital]]
| cable_chan_2 = Channel 463 (SD)<br /> Channel 830 (HD)
| cable_serv_3 = [[Kerala Vision Digital TV]]
| cable_chan_3 = Channel 371 (SD)<br /> Channel 869 (HD)
| cable_serv_4 = Bengal Digital (Bangladesh)
| cable_chan_4 = Channel 282 (India SD)<br />Channel 283 (India
HD)
| online_serv_5 = [[Disney+ Hotstar]]
| online_chan_5 = [[India]]
}}
}}


'''Star Movies''' is an Asian [[pay television]] network originally owned by [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific|Fox Networks Group Asia]], [[Fox Networks Group Middle East|Middle East]] and [[Star TV (Asian TV networks)|Star TV India]]. In March 2019, [[The Walt Disney Company]] acquired [[Star TV (Asian TV networks)|Star TV]] for $71 billion with [[21st Century Fox]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=IANS|date=2019-03-20|title=Disney now owns Star India after $71bn Fox deal|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/disney-now-owns-star-india-after-71bn-fox-deal-119032000941_1.html|access-date=2020-12-28}}</ref> Star Movies was originally launched as a single channel broadcast across Asia, but it was regionalised into different localised channels since then. [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific]] have since rebranded some of the network's international feeds in Hong Kong, Taiwan (SD Feed Only) and Southeast Asia as [[Fox Movies (Southeast Asia)|Fox Movies]], but retains the Star Movies brand in [[Mainland China]] (Hong Kong),Taiwan (HD Feed),Middle East & South Asia (except Maldives). [[Star India]] continues to operate the Indian feed of the network as a channel specialised in Western films, while the Middle Eastern feed, operated by [[Fox Networks Group Middle East]], co-exists with [[Fox Movies (Middle East and North Africa)|Fox Movies]]. Star Movies HD in Taiwan is operated by [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific|Fox Network Group Taiwan]] which was the advertisement-free offering of [[Fox Movies (Southeast Asian TV channel)|Fox Movies Taiwan]]. However, from March 2021 Star Movies Taiwan started doing short advertisement breaks in between movies. Star Movies in Middle East is operated by [[Fox Networks Group Middle East|Fox Network Group Middle East]]. Star Movies has been changed into Star Movies HD on January 10, 2021.
'''Star Movies''' is an [[Asia]]n-based [[pay television]] channel owned by [[Disney Entertainment]]. Star Movies was originally launched in 1994 as a single channel broadcast across Asia, but it has regionalized into different localized channels since then. [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific]] have since rebranded some of the network's international feeds in Hong Kong, Taiwan (SD feed only), and Southeast Asia as [[Fox Movies (Southeast Asia)|Fox Movies]], but retains the Star Movies brand in the Middle East & South Asia (except Maldives).
 
[[Disney Star]] continues to operate the Indian feed of the network as a channel specialized in Western films, with the logo remaining completely unchanged since 2009. The mainland China feed is operated by [[Disney Entertainment]], launched as a separate channel split from HK/SEA feed and since then continues to air. Meanwhile, Disney also operates the Middle Eastern feed, keeping the 2009 logo (still used in India and Mainland China) until adopting the non-Indian/Chinese Star channels' logo scheme in 2024, while Fox Movies was replaced by a new channel, [[Star Films]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fox branded channels to undergo rebranding in MENA region |url=https://www.broadcastprome.com/news/fox-branded-channels-to-undergo-rebranding-in-mena-region/ |website=www.broadcastprome.com}}</ref> In the Balkans and Portugal, the local versions of [[Fox Movies (TV channel)|Fox Movies]] were replaced by Star Movies. Star Movies in the Middle East, Balkans and Portugal is managed by The Walt Disney Company.


==History==
==History==
STAR Movies split up from STAR Plus on 1 May 1994, which usually aired movies in the early years of STAR TV from 1991 to 1994. At launch, its programming lineup was consisted of both [[Hollywood]] and [[Chinese language|Chinese]] films and catered to pan-Asian audiences.
Star Movies began broadcasting on 20 April 1994 for viewers in Taiwan, replacing [[BBC World Service Television]] in the Northern Beam region which was dropped on 17 April 1994. The channel became scrambled on 1 May 1994.<ref name="pay" /> The need to launch the channel was based on research on viewers' preferences and feedback from cable operators.<ref name="pay" /> At launch, Star Movies was a Mandarin and English movie channel, with 60% of the films in Chinese or produced in Asia and 40% being Western titles. The channel was only available through authorized cable operators.<ref name="pay" />
 
Star Movies was split up from [[Star World|Star Plus]] on 1 May 1994, which usually aired movies in the early years of [[Disney Networks Group Asia|Star TV]] from 1991 to 1994. At launch, its programming lineup consisted of both [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] and [[Chinese language|Chinese]] films and catered to pan-Asian audiences.


As Star TV planned to remove [[BBC World Service Television]] from its channel lineup for [[Northeast Asia]] by mid-April 1994, the company planned to replace it with a [[Star Chinese Movies|Chinese-language film channel]].<ref name="UPI-94MAR22">"[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/03/22/Murdochs-STAR-TV-to-drop-BBC/9394764312400/ Murdoch's STAR TV to drop BBC]" UPI March 22, 1994</ref> Star Movies would focus on Western world films from then on. Star TV has since regionalized the channel's operation.
As Star TV planned to remove [[BBC World Service Television]] from its channel lineup for [[Northeast Asia]] by mid-April 1994, the company planned to replace it with a [[Star Chinese Movies|Chinese-language film channel]].<ref name="UPI-94MAR22">"[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/03/22/Murdochs-STAR-TV-to-drop-BBC/9394764312400/ Murdoch's STAR TV to drop BBC]" UPI March 22, 1994</ref> Star Movies would focus on Western world films from then on. Star TV has since regionalized the channel's operation.


A localised feed intended for the Philippines was launched on 1 January 2010. Four months later, a high-definition channel, Star Movies HD, was launched. A [[video on demand]] channel was also launched on 16 September of that same year.<ref>[http://www.lyngsat.com/asia5.html STAR Movies HD in Asiasat 5] retrieved via http://www.lyngsat.com 05-26-2010</ref>
The channel was noticeably absent from [[StarHub TV|Singapore Cable Vision]] upon the launch of its cable service in 1995 due to censorship problems in the country.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 September 1995 |title=No movie channel, no sweat for Star TV |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19950901-1.2.36.2 |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB)}}</ref>
 
On 1 February 1996, the channel changed its logo from a STAR wordmark similar to Zee Cinema in 1995 to a box-type STAR symbol featuring a frame, a pentagram star, and a blue square.
 
It was launched in Malaysia on 1 June 1996.
 
A localized feed intended for Taiwan was launched on 1 January 1997, Southeast Asia and China on 1 May 1997, and the Philippines on 1 January 2010. Four months later, a high-definition channel, Star Movies HD, was launched. A [[video on demand]] channel was also launched on 16 September of that same year.<ref>[http://www.lyngsat.com/asia5.html STAR Movies HD in Asiasat 5] retrieved via http://www.lyngsat.com 05-26-2010</ref>


On 1 January 2012, Star Movies was rebranded as [[Fox Movies Premium]] and available in Hong Kong, the Maldives and most of Southeast Asia.
On 1 April 1999, the channel had a first major logo change from vertical to horizontal, along with other STAR TV channels.


On 10 June 2017, the Philippine feed of the channel was rebranded as Fox Movies Philippines.
On 1 January 2012, Star Movies was rebranded as Fox Movies Premium and available in Hong Kong, the Maldives, and most Southeast Asia.


On 1 November 2017, the Vietnamese feed of Star Movies was rebranded as Fox Movies Vietnam.<ref>[http://mobitv.hanoi.vn/tin-tuc-mobitv/fox-movies-va-fox-life-chinh-thuc-len-song-truyen-hinh-mobitv/ FOX Movies và FOX Life chính thức lên sóng truyền hình MobiTV] retrieved via http://mobitv.hanoi.vn 10-20-2017</ref>
On 10 June 2017, the channel's Philippine feed was rebranded as Fox Movies Philippines. In other Southeast Asian countries and Hong Kong, Fox Movies Premium rebranded to Fox Movies on the same day. The channel shut down on 1 October 2021 in these regions along with other local versions of several Disney- and Fox-branded channels.


==Star Movies changes==
On New Year's Day 2022, Fox Movies Taiwan was renamed under the new name Star Movies Gold so that Star Movies HD remains active with the programming separate from each other. As Disney decided to further enroll [[Disney+]] across the Asian markets, they had decided to [[Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific#Disney ownership and channel operations closure|cease further pay TV broadcasting]], including both Star Movies Gold and Star Movies HD. Both of the channels were ceased in operation on January 1, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|last=Frater|first=Patrick|title=Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-closing-tv-channels-southeast-asia-korea-1235643667/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 14, 2023|access-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=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|url=https://www.thenewslens.com/article/187077|website=[[The News Lens]]|date=June 14, 2023|access-date=June 23, 2023|language=zh-TW}}</ref>
Star Movies has been changed into Star Movies HD on January 10, 2021.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}


Now Available In English, Hindi, Tamil And Telugu. {{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
On 7 June 2023, Disney announced that it would launch [[Star Movies (Balkans)|Star Movies]] in the [[Balkans]] as a replacement for Fox Movies in the region on 1 October 2023.<ref name=StarMoviesSerb>{{cite web |title=Fox postaje STAR Channel |url=https://fonet.rs/promo/36317965/fox-postaje-star-channel.html |website=FoNet portal |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=sr |date=7 June 2023 |trans-title=Fox becomes Star Channel}}</ref> Disney would later announce that it would also replace Fox Movies in [[Portugal]] (in addition to [[Angola]] and [[Mozambique]]) with [[Star Movies (Portuguese TV channel)|Star Movies]] on 7 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel|url=https://www.foxtv.pt/especial/perguntas-frequentes-a-fox-vai-ser-star-channel|access-date=2023-11-28 |website=foxtv.pt |language=pt}}</ref>


==Programming==
==Programming==
Star Movies has first-run contracts for movies distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Disney]] ([[20th Century Studios]], [[Pixar Animation Studios|Pixar]], [[Marvel Studios]]) And [[Columbia Pictures]] and sub-run contracts for movies from  countries where Star Movies is available. It also features movies from other movie distributors including: [[Lions Gate Entertainment]], [[Summit Entertainment]] and [[The Weinstein Company]]. Star Movies mainly airs Disney Movies during the daytime hours. Star Movies India does fewer premieres compared to sometimes showing programs like Masterchef Australia and pushing more premium movies into their OTT platform [[Hotstar|Disney+ Hotstar]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
Star Movies has first-run contracts for movies distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Disney]] ([[20th Century Studios]], [[Pixar Animation Studios|Pixar]], [[Marvel Studios]]) and sub-run contracts for movies from  countries where Star Movies is available. It also features movies from other movie distributors including [[Paramount Pictures]], [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]], [[Summit Entertainment]] and [[The Weinstein Company]]. Star Movies mainly airs Disney movies during the daytime hours. Star Movies India does fewer premieres compared to sometimes showing programs like ''[[Masterchef Australia]]'' and pushing more premium movies into their OTT platform [[Disney+ Hotstar]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
 
==Operating channels==
===Star Movies Asia===
Star Movies Asia was formerly broadcast in Southeast Asia, parts of South Asia and China as a single, ad-free channel.


As of 2017, Star Movies Asia is limited to subscribers in China due to the gradual rebrand of the channel's localised feeds to [[Fox Movies Premium]].
==Current feeds==
=== Star Movies (India) ===
Star Movies India is distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], [[Pixar]], [[Marvel Studios]] and [[20th Century Studios]] in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and is ad supported. Movie premieres are less frequent compared to other feeds. Other studios include [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]], [[NBCUniversal]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and [[Warner Bros. Discovery]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} The audio feeds available were  English, Hindi, Tamil . The channel ceased broadcasting in Nepal and Sri Lanka from 1 February 2015 due to content rights issues, leaving the country with no Star Movies or Fox Movies channel.{{Cn|date=April 2025}} The channel was relaunched in Nepal and Sri Lanka in 2019 after 4 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/PEOTV/photos/enjoy-star-movies-now-on-peo-tv-ch-28-free-for-all-packages-until-31st-may/2672561839427308/ |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/245458828804300/2672561839427308 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=www.facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


Star Movies Vietnam used to air 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.
[[Star Movies Select HD]] was launched on 9 July 2015 showcasing niche films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Star announces launch of Star Movies Select HD - Exchange4media |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/star-announces-launch-of-star-movies-select-hd-60713.html |access-date=2020-12-30 |website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media |language=en}}</ref> An SD feed was launched on 15 March 2023 along with the launches and shutdowns of several other Star channels.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Disney Star brings curtains down on English GECs; launches 9 new channels: Best Media Info |url=https://bestmediainfo.com/2023/03/disney-star-brings-curtains-down-on-english-gecs-launches-9-new-channels |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Best Media Info}}</ref>


After the rebranding of Star Movies to [[Fox Movies Premium]], Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lanka|first=Tv & Radio Sri|date=2011-12-19|title=Dialog TV Forum: Star Movies Asia replaced with Star Movies India & HTV is kaput|url=https://dialogtv.blogspot.com/2011/12/star-movies-asia-replaced-with-star.html|access-date=2020-12-30|website=Dialog TV Forum}}</ref> were switched over to the ad supported Indian version of Star Movies.
=== Star Movies (China) ===
Star Movies channel in China was launched at around late 2000s/early 2010s, separated from its main (Hong Kong/SEA) feed. However, unlike its main feed changed to Fox Movies (closed in 2021), this channel maintained its own format including ad breaks in-between movies showing promos for upcoming movies.


===Star Movies India===
It is one of the few channels in the mainland China outside HK (along with [[Star Sports (China)|Star Sports]] and National Geographic Channel) that are continued to operate by Disney due to China's broadcast regulation laws prohibiting foreign entities from operating online streaming services like Disney+ (and despite Star's previous owner 21st Century Fox had sold [[Star China Media|Star China]], which does not own that channel, to [[China Media Group]]).
{{Main article/sandbox|Star Movies India}}
Star Movies India is distributed by [[Walt Disney Studio]]{{cite needed|date=July 2021}}, [[Pixar]], [[Marvel Studios]] and [[20th Century Studios]] in India, [[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Bangladesh]] and is ad supported. Movie premieres are less frequent compared to other feeds.


Available language audio feed In Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
=== Star Movies (MENA) ===
[[citc need]]
Star Movies Middle East and Africa features a hardcoded [[Arabic language|Arabic-language]] subtitle track (except for Israel). The channel is currently available on [[beIN Channels Network|beIN]] and was formerly available on [[OSN]] (as of January 1, 2024).
The channel ceased broadcasting in Sri Lanka from 1 February 2015 due to content rights issues, leaving the country with no Star Movies or Fox Movies channel.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lanka|first=Tv & Radio Sri|date=2015-01-29|title=Dialog TV Forum: MGM Channel, Star World Premiere HD, Australia plus.....|url=https://dialogtv.blogspot.com/2015/01/mgm-channel-star-world-premiere-hd.html|access-date=2020-12-30|website=Dialog TV Forum}}</ref> The channel was relaunched in Sri Lanka in 2019 after 4 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/PEOTV/photos/enjoy-star-movies-now-on-peo-tv-ch-28-free-for-all-packages-until-31st-may/2672561839427308/|access-date=2020-12-30|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>


[[Star Movies Select HD]] was launched in 2015 showcasing niche films.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Star announces launch of Star Movies Select HD - Exchange4media|url=https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/star-announces-launch-of-star-movies-select-hd-60713.html|access-date=2020-12-30|website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media|language=en}}</ref>
On 1 March 2024, Star Movies MENA rebranded for the first time in 16 years and stopped using its 2009 logo (which is still used in India and Mainland China).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fox branded channels to undergo rebranding in MENA region |url=https://www.broadcastprome.com/news/fox-branded-channels-to-undergo-rebranding-in-mena-region/ |website=www.broadcastprome.com}}</ref>


===Star Movies MENA===
=== Star Movies (Balkans) ===
Star Movies Middle East and Africa features a hardcoded [[Arabic language|Arabic-language]] subtitle track (except for Israel). The channel is available on both OSN and beIN.
{{Main article|Star Movies (Balkans)}}
Managed with The Walt Disney Company Bulgaria. Features numerous films from [[20th Century Studios]], [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Disney]], [[Columbia Pictures]], [[Pixar]], [[Marvel Studios]], [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], and [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]]. On June 7, 2023, it was announced that [[Fox Movies (Balkans)|Fox Movies]] would be rebrand to Star Movies on October 1, 2023.<ref name=StarMoviesSerb/>


===Star Movies Taiwan===
=== Star Movies (Portugal) ===
An ad-supported feed of Star Movies was launched for [[Taiwan]] specifically. It was the most localised feed of the television network, since most voice-overs in promotions for up-coming movies were done in [[Mandarin Chinese]]. The SD feed of the channel was rebranded as Fox Movies Taiwan on 18 January 2018, while the HD feed still retains is independent programming and branding.
{{Main article|Star Movies (Portuguese TV channel)}}
It was launched on 1 July 2011, replacing the series and cinema channel [[Fox Next]].<ref name="rapidtvnews1">{{cite web |date=2011-06-23 |title=Fox Movies adds Portuguese flavour &#124; News |url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2011062313077/fox-movies-adds-portuguese-flavour.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601205416/http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2011062313077/fox-movies-adds-portuguese-flavour.html |archive-date=2013-06-01 |access-date=2012-02-07 |publisher=Rapid TV News}}</ref> FOX Movies is accompanied by a high definition version, FOX Movies HD, which began broadcasting on July 15, 2011 exclusively on [[MEO (telecommunication company)|MEO]]. The channel is also available in Angola and Mozambique, through the operator [[ZAP (satellite television)|ZAP]], where [[Fox Next]] was previously also available. In African and European territory, FOX Movies and FOX Movies HD are available on a subscription basis. Fox Movies was rebranded to Star Movies on 7 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Disney ends Fox brand in Portugal |url=https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2023-11-28/disney-ends-fox-brand-in-portugal/83687 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=theportugalnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel|url=https://www.foxtv.pt/especial/perguntas-frequentes-a-fox-vai-ser-star-channel|access-date=2023-11-28 |website=foxtv.pt |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Canais Fox vão mudar de nome e assumir marca Star |trans-title=Fox channels will change their name and adopt the Star brand |url=https://www.publico.pt/2023/11/27/culturaipsilon/noticia/canais-fox-vao-mudar-nome-assumir-marca-star-2071745 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=publico.pt |language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Canais FOX vão passar a ser Star Channel já em 2024 |url =https://marketeer.sapo.pt/canais-fox-vao-passar-a-ser-star-channel-ja-em-2024/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=marketeer.sapo.pt}}</ref>


===Star Movies Philippines===
==Former feeds==
Star Movies was launched on 30 November 2009 in the Philippines as an ad-supported channel. It used to simulcast with the Southeast Asian and Chinese feeds until 31 December 2009, when a localised feed was launched specifically for the Philippines. After the rebranding of Star Movies Asia as Fox Movies Premium on 1 January 2012 in most of Southeast Asia, the Philippine feed remained broadcasting until 10 June 2017 when it followed suit.
=== Star Movies Action ===
It was launched on 2 June 2013 only in India, replacing Fox Action Movies (not to be confused with [[Fox Action Movies|its Southeast Asian counterpart]]) after its temporary closedown on 11 May 2013. The channel airs action- and horror-themed movies. In 2017, the channel was shut down.<ref>[http://www.adgully.com/star-india-gears-up-for-more-action-all-set-to-launch-star-movies-action-54327.html Star India gears-up for more action; All set to launch Star Movies Action retrieved via http://www.adgully.com 10-22-2013 ]</ref>


===Star Movies Action===
=== Star Movies Gold and Star Movies HD (Taiwan) ===
It was launched on 2 June 2013 only in India, replacing Fox Action Movies (not to be confused with [[Fox Action Movies|its Southeast Asian counterpart]]) after its temporal closedown on 11 May 2013. The channel airs action- and horror-themed movies . In 2017, the channel was shutdown.<ref>[http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2013/05/star-movies-action-to-replace-fox-action-movies/ Star Movies Action to replace Fox Action Movies] retrieved via http://www.bestmediainfo.com 10-20-2013</ref><ref>[http://www.adgully.com/star-india-gears-up-for-more-action-all-set-to-launch-star-movies-action-54327.html Star India gears-up for more action; All set to launch Star Movies Action retrieved via http://www.adgully.com 10-22-2013 ]</ref>
An ad-supported feed of Star Movies was launched for [[Taiwan]] specifically. It was the most localised feed of the television network, since most voice-overs in promotions for upcoming movies were done in [[Mandarin Chinese]]. The SD feed of the channel was rebranded as Fox Movies Taiwan on 18 January 2018, while the HD feed still retains is independent programming and branding. On January 1, 2022, Fox Movies Taiwan was rebranded to Star Movies Gold. On January 1, 2024, the Taiwanese versions of Star Movies Gold and Star Movies HD were discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2023-06-14 |title=Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-closing-tv-channels-southeast-asia-korea-1235643667/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Star Films]]
*[[Fox Movies (Southeast Asian TV channel)|Fox Movies Southeast Asia]]
*[[Fox Movies (Southeast Asian TV channel)|Fox Movies Southeast Asia]]
*[[Fox Family Movies]]
*[[Fox Action Movies]]
*[[Fox Action Movies]]


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==External links==
==External links==
* {{official}}
* {{official website}}
{{Star TV}}{{Fox Networks Group}}
 
{{Star TV}}


[[Category:Disney television networks]]
[[Category:Disney television networks]]
[[Category:Movie channels in India]]
[[Category:Movie channels]]
[[Category:Movie channels in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Movie channels in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Movie channels in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Movie channels in China]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1991]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in India]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in India]]
[[Category:Star India]]

Latest revision as of 13:34, 23 March 2026


Star Movies
Logos used in the Balkans and Portugal since 2023; the Middle East since 2024 logo; and India and China since January 1, 2009
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
History
LaunchedApril 20, 1994; 32 years ago (1994-04-20) (split from Star Plus, Taiwan only)[1]
June 1, 1996; 30 years ago (1996-06-01) (Malaysia)
October 1, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-10-01) (Balkans)
7 February 2024; 2 years ago (2024-02-07) (Portugal)[2]
ReplacedBBC World Service Television
14 October 1991–17 April 1994[1]
Fox Movies (Balkans and Portugal)
Closed31 December 2023; 2 years ago (2023-12-31) (Taiwan)
Replaced byFox Movies Premium (2012–2017; Southeast Asia)
Fox Movies (Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan; first incarnation)
Former namesBBC World Service Television Asia
14 October 1991–1 May 1994
Availability
Streaming media
JioHotstarIndia

Star Movies is an Asian-based pay television channel owned by Disney Entertainment. Star Movies was originally launched in 1994 as a single channel broadcast across Asia, but it has regionalized into different localized channels since then. Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific have since rebranded some of the network's international feeds in Hong Kong, Taiwan (SD feed only), and Southeast Asia as Fox Movies, but retains the Star Movies brand in the Middle East & South Asia (except Maldives).

Disney Star continues to operate the Indian feed of the network as a channel specialized in Western films, with the logo remaining completely unchanged since 2009. The mainland China feed is operated by Disney Entertainment, launched as a separate channel split from HK/SEA feed and since then continues to air. Meanwhile, Disney also operates the Middle Eastern feed, keeping the 2009 logo (still used in India and Mainland China) until adopting the non-Indian/Chinese Star channels' logo scheme in 2024, while Fox Movies was replaced by a new channel, Star Films.[3] In the Balkans and Portugal, the local versions of Fox Movies were replaced by Star Movies. Star Movies in the Middle East, Balkans and Portugal is managed by The Walt Disney Company.

History[edit | edit source]

Star Movies began broadcasting on 20 April 1994 for viewers in Taiwan, replacing BBC World Service Television in the Northern Beam region which was dropped on 17 April 1994. The channel became scrambled on 1 May 1994.[1] The need to launch the channel was based on research on viewers' preferences and feedback from cable operators.[1] At launch, Star Movies was a Mandarin and English movie channel, with 60% of the films in Chinese or produced in Asia and 40% being Western titles. The channel was only available through authorized cable operators.[1]

Star Movies was split up from Star Plus on 1 May 1994, which usually aired movies in the early years of Star TV from 1991 to 1994. At launch, its programming lineup consisted of both Hollywood and Chinese films and catered to pan-Asian audiences.

As Star TV planned to remove BBC World Service Television from its channel lineup for Northeast Asia by mid-April 1994, the company planned to replace it with a Chinese-language film channel.[4] Star Movies would focus on Western world films from then on. Star TV has since regionalized the channel's operation.

The channel was noticeably absent from Singapore Cable Vision upon the launch of its cable service in 1995 due to censorship problems in the country.[5]

On 1 February 1996, the channel changed its logo from a STAR wordmark similar to Zee Cinema in 1995 to a box-type STAR symbol featuring a frame, a pentagram star, and a blue square.

It was launched in Malaysia on 1 June 1996.

A localized feed intended for Taiwan was launched on 1 January 1997, Southeast Asia and China on 1 May 1997, and the Philippines on 1 January 2010. Four months later, a high-definition channel, Star Movies HD, was launched. A video on demand channel was also launched on 16 September of that same year.[6]

On 1 April 1999, the channel had a first major logo change from vertical to horizontal, along with other STAR TV channels.

On 1 January 2012, Star Movies was rebranded as Fox Movies Premium and available in Hong Kong, the Maldives, and most Southeast Asia.

On 10 June 2017, the channel's Philippine feed was rebranded as Fox Movies Philippines. In other Southeast Asian countries and Hong Kong, Fox Movies Premium rebranded to Fox Movies on the same day. The channel shut down on 1 October 2021 in these regions along with other local versions of several Disney- and Fox-branded channels.

On New Year's Day 2022, Fox Movies Taiwan was renamed under the new name Star Movies Gold so that Star Movies HD remains active with the programming separate from each other. As Disney decided to further enroll Disney+ across the Asian markets, they had decided to cease further pay TV broadcasting, including both Star Movies Gold and Star Movies HD. Both of the channels were ceased in operation on January 1, 2024.[7][8]

On 7 June 2023, Disney announced that it would launch Star Movies in the Balkans as a replacement for Fox Movies in the region on 1 October 2023.[9] Disney would later announce that it would also replace Fox Movies in Portugal (in addition to Angola and Mozambique) with Star Movies on 7 February 2024.[10]

Programming[edit | edit source]

Star Movies has first-run contracts for movies distributed by Disney (20th Century Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios) and sub-run contracts for movies from countries where Star Movies is available. It also features movies from other movie distributors including Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate, Summit Entertainment and The Weinstein Company. Star Movies mainly airs Disney movies during the daytime hours. Star Movies India does fewer premieres compared to sometimes showing programs like Masterchef Australia and pushing more premium movies into their OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar.[citation needed]

Current feeds[edit | edit source]

Star Movies (India)[edit | edit source]

Star Movies India is distributed by Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios and 20th Century Studios in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and is ad supported. Movie premieres are less frequent compared to other feeds. Other studios include Lionsgate, NBCUniversal[citation needed] and Warner Bros. Discovery.[citation needed] The audio feeds available were English, Hindi, Tamil . The channel ceased broadcasting in Nepal and Sri Lanka from 1 February 2015 due to content rights issues, leaving the country with no Star Movies or Fox Movies channel.[citation needed] The channel was relaunched in Nepal and Sri Lanka in 2019 after 4 years.[11]

Star Movies Select HD was launched on 9 July 2015 showcasing niche films.[12] An SD feed was launched on 15 March 2023 along with the launches and shutdowns of several other Star channels.[13]

Star Movies (China)[edit | edit source]

Star Movies channel in China was launched at around late 2000s/early 2010s, separated from its main (Hong Kong/SEA) feed. However, unlike its main feed changed to Fox Movies (closed in 2021), this channel maintained its own format including ad breaks in-between movies showing promos for upcoming movies.

It is one of the few channels in the mainland China outside HK (along with Star Sports and National Geographic Channel) that are continued to operate by Disney due to China's broadcast regulation laws prohibiting foreign entities from operating online streaming services like Disney+ (and despite Star's previous owner 21st Century Fox had sold Star China, which does not own that channel, to China Media Group).

Star Movies (MENA)[edit | edit source]

Star Movies Middle East and Africa features a hardcoded Arabic-language subtitle track (except for Israel). The channel is currently available on beIN and was formerly available on OSN (as of January 1, 2024).

On 1 March 2024, Star Movies MENA rebranded for the first time in 16 years and stopped using its 2009 logo (which is still used in India and Mainland China).[14]

Star Movies (Balkans)[edit | edit source]

Main article: Star Movies (Balkans)

Managed with The Walt Disney Company Bulgaria. Features numerous films from 20th Century Studios, Disney, Columbia Pictures, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and DreamWorks. On June 7, 2023, it was announced that Fox Movies would be rebrand to Star Movies on October 1, 2023.[9]

Star Movies (Portugal)[edit | edit source]

Main article: Star Movies (Portuguese TV channel)

It was launched on 1 July 2011, replacing the series and cinema channel Fox Next.[15] FOX Movies is accompanied by a high definition version, FOX Movies HD, which began broadcasting on July 15, 2011 exclusively on MEO. The channel is also available in Angola and Mozambique, through the operator ZAP, where Fox Next was previously also available. In African and European territory, FOX Movies and FOX Movies HD are available on a subscription basis. Fox Movies was rebranded to Star Movies on 7 February 2024.[16][17][18][19]

Former feeds[edit | edit source]

Star Movies Action[edit | edit source]

It was launched on 2 June 2013 only in India, replacing Fox Action Movies (not to be confused with its Southeast Asian counterpart) after its temporary closedown on 11 May 2013. The channel airs action- and horror-themed movies. In 2017, the channel was shut down.[20]

Star Movies Gold and Star Movies HD (Taiwan)[edit | edit source]

An ad-supported feed of Star Movies was launched for Taiwan specifically. It was the most localised feed of the television network, since most voice-overs in promotions for upcoming movies were done in Mandarin Chinese. The SD feed of the channel was rebranded as Fox Movies Taiwan on 18 January 2018, while the HD feed still retains is independent programming and branding. On January 1, 2022, Fox Movies Taiwan was rebranded to Star Movies Gold. On January 1, 2024, the Taiwanese versions of Star Movies Gold and Star Movies HD were discontinued.[21]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Star TV starting pay movie channel to replace BBC World Service". The Straits Times. 24 March 1994. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel". foxtv.pt (in português). 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Fox branded channels to undergo rebranding in MENA region". www.broadcastprome.com.
  4. ↑ "Murdoch's STAR TV to drop BBC" UPI March 22, 1994
  5. ↑ "No movie channel, no sweat for Star TV". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 1 September 1995. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. ↑ STAR Movies HD in Asiasat 5 retrieved via http://www.lyngsat.com 05-26-2010
  7. ↑ Frater, Patrick (14 June 2023). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "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 中文（臺灣）). 14 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Fox postaje STAR Channel" [Fox becomes Star Channel]. FoNet portal (in српски / srpski). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel". foxtv.pt (in português). 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  12. ↑ "Star announces launch of Star Movies Select HD - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Disney Star brings curtains down on English GECs; launches 9 new channels: Best Media Info". Best Media Info. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Fox branded channels to undergo rebranding in MENA region". www.broadcastprome.com.
  15. ↑ "Fox Movies adds Portuguese flavour | News". Rapid TV News. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "Disney ends Fox brand in Portugal". theportugalnews.com. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel". foxtv.pt (in português). 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Canais Fox vão mudar de nome e assumir marca Star" [Fox channels will change their name and adopt the Star brand]. publico.pt (in português). 27 November 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  19. ↑ "Canais FOX vão passar a ser Star Channel já em 2024". marketeer.sapo.pt. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  20. ↑ Star India gears-up for more action; All set to launch Star Movies Action retrieved via http://www.adgully.com 10-22-2013
  21. ↑ Frater, Patrick (14 June 2023). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]

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