Star Chinese Channel
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.
 | |
| Country | Greater China (1991-1996) Republic of China (Taiwan) (1996-2023) |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Taiwan |
| Headquarters | British Hong Kong (1991-1996) Taipei, Taiwan (1996-2023) |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Cantonese (1991-1996) Mandarin (1991-2023) |
| 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 |
| 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 (1991-2000) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
History
One of the first five original channels of Star TV, 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, but 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 in 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.[1]
On Saturday, 30 September 2023 at 11:59:59pm Hong Kong Time, Star Chinese Channel officially ceased transmission and broadcasting after officially formal ceasing ceremony took place in held at Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau was officially moved to Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar.
On Sunday, 31 December 2023 at 11:59:59pm Taiwan Time, Star Chinese Channel officially ceased transmission and broadcasting after officially formal ceasing ceremony took place in held at Taiwan was officially moved to Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar.[2]
Feeds
| Country/Region | Date |
|---|---|
 Taiwan |
* Star Chinese Channel (衛視中文台):
21 October 1991 - 31 December 2023
2012 - 31 December 2023 |
 Mainland China |
* Star Chinese Channel (衛視中文台):
21 October 1991 - 31 March 1996
|
| International Feed:
Southeast Asia: |
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 |
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References
- 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 (2023-06-14). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
External links
- Official website (Taiwan)