Star Channel

For the U.S. premium channel previously known as "Star Channel", see The Movie Channel.

Star Channel
150px Star Channel 2014 logo
Launched	4 December 1993
Owned by	Dassen Holdings (87.3%) (Vardinogiannis group of companies)
Picture format	16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Audience share	18.2% (23/9/2013 - 29/9/2013, http://www.agb.gr/gr/data/default.htm)
Country	Greece
Language	Greek
Broadcast area	Internationally
Formerly called	Kanali 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 (orange, red, magenta, blue, green and yellow) which form part of a stylized star (with the multicolored half star bearing a resemblance to the multicolored peacock in the logo for the NBC American television network).

Star Channel is mostly known in Greece 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 was escorted away from the Eurovision Song Contest by police after accusations of illegally transmitting footage from the dress rehearsal.

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

• December 1993 – Star Channel was launched to compete with Mega Channel, ANT1, Alpha TV, and ERT Channels. It began broadcasting children's programs along with foreign series.

• 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.

• 2005 – Star Channel makes its debut Internationally, joining the UBI World TV platform, making Star Channel available to viewers in Australia as well as Asia and Africa region.

• 2008 – UBI World TV launches in New Zealand making Star International available.

• 2010 – 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.

• 2011 – In March, Star Channel started 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 programs, including all of its own shows and its news broadcast.

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Star Channel

Star Channel airs 24/7 news, shows, movies and foreign series. Τhe network also airs a six-hour weekend morning animation block named "StarLand".

As of October 2014, current programming for the 2014–2015 broadcasting season includes:

News and information

• "Live U" – An informative show focusing on social, political and financial news of the day. The show offers wide communication, through internet, of its viewers with the guests/congressmen answering to their queries. It is hosted by Popi Tsapanidou.
• "Mia" (One) – Discussions about various issues in women's lives (men, beauty tips, decoration, cooking, relationships, sex, kids etc.) with showbiz guests as well as informations about major news of the day. It is hosted by Tatiana Stefanidou and airs weekdays at 16:45.
• "FM Live" – Features lifestyle issues from Greece and abroad. Hosted by Fotis Sergoulopoulos and Maria Bakodimou. Airs weekdays at 14:45.
• "Star Eidiseis" (Star News) – A newscast featuring top headlines from Greece and abroad, entertainment & sports news, focusing mostly on financial, political & social issues. It airs at 16:30 and 19:45. Its main news anchor is Mara Zaharea on weekdays, and Panagiotis Stathis on weekends. The main commentator is Nikos Hatzinikolaou.
• "Ston Eniko" – Current affairs talk show with focus on political issues. It is hosted by Nikos Hatzinikolaou.

Television series

Greek

• "Orkos Siopis" – daily soap opera in its first season; premiered in October 2014.

Foreign

• Friends
• House
• Kuzey Güney
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent
• Life
• Mike & Molly
• Nikita
• Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki
• Without a Trace
• Smallville

Star International

File:Star channel international.jpg

Star International Logo

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 and 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. In June 2010, RCN Cable dropped the channel due to low subscriptions.

In May 2011, Star International re-launched in the US, 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. In June 2015 Star International is available through iPhone and Android APP from ZAAPTV Greek.

On 23 September 2014, Star International launched in Canada via Bell Fibe TV.

Logos

150px	150px
18/08/2003-13/09/2014	13/09/2014-present

External links

• Official website (Greek)