Star Chinese Channel

For a TV channel that replaced the STAR Chinese channel in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macau in 1996, see Phoenix Chinese Channel.
Star Chinese Channel
CountryGreater China (21 October 1991-30 March 1996)
Republic of China (Taiwan) (30 March 1996-31 December 2023)
Broadcast areaTaiwan (21 October 1991-31 December 2023)
HeadquartersBritish 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 format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 480i for the SD feed)
Ownership
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company (Taiwan) Ltd
(Disney International Operations)
Sister channelsStar Chinese Movies
Star World
Star Movies Gold & Star Movies HD
History
Launched21 October 1991[1]
Closed31 March 1996; 28 years ago (1996-03-31) (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; 12 months ago (2023-12-31) (Taiwan)
Replaced byPhoenix Chinese Channel (Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China)
KMTV (Taiwan)
Former namesStar TV Chinese Channel (21 October 1991-31 December 2000)
Links
Websitewww.dngtw.tw/scc/ (Taiwan)

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 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. Both Star Chinese Channel, along with its sister channel Star Entertainment Channel, closing down on January 1, 2024, as Disney further enrolled Disney+ streaming platform.

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, who had previously brought FOX International Networks, decided to further enrolled Disney+ across the Asian markets, they had made the decision to shutting down their entire cable TV networks, including Star Chinese Channel. The channel already ceased in operation in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macau on October 1, 2023, awhile Taiwan are the final country to closing down Star Chinese Channel (alongside their sister channel, Star Entertainment Channel) on January 1, 2024.[3][4] The channel in Taiwan was later replaced by KMTV following the closure.[5]

Feeds

Country/Region Date
 Taiwan
  • Star Chinese Channel (Chinese: 衛視中文台):
    21 October 1991–31 December 2023
  • Star Entertainment Channel (Chinese: 星衛娛樂台):
    (An alternative channel launched in 2012, available in certain cable TV providers and on CHT MOD in Taiwan): 2012–31 December 2023
 Mainland China
  • Star Chinese Channel (Chinese: 衛視中文台): 21 October 1991–31 March 1996
  • Phoenix Chinese Channel (Chinese: 凤凰卫视中文台): 31 March 1996–Juanary 1 2024
International Feed: Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia:
  • Star Chinese Channel (Chinese: 衛視中文台): 21 October 1991–31 March 1996 and 2 October 2006-30 September 2023
  • Phoenix Chinese Channel (Chinese: 鳳凰衛視中文台): 31 March 1996–Today

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

  1. ^ a b "SBC and HK's Star TV in new tie-up". The Straits Times. 1 November 1991. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Frater, Patrick (June 14, 2023). "Disney to Close Remaining Linear TV Channels in Southeast Asia and Korea". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.