Star Chinese Channel
Star Chinese Channel (Chinese: 衛視中文台; pinyin: Wèishì Zhōngwén Tái) is a Taiwanese Mandarin general entertainment television channel operated by Star China Media and Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific. Its programming features drama, variety, lifestyle, and talk shows in Mandarin. Launched on 21 October 1991 at 16:30 Hong Kong Time by Star TV (now Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific), 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 31 March 1996.
 | |
| Country | British Hong Kong (1991-1996) Taipei, Taiwan (1991-1994, 1996-Now) |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | British Hong Kong (1991-1996) Taipei, Taiwan (1996-Now) |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Mandarin (1991-Now) Cantonese (1991-1996) |
| Picture format | SD version: 576i 16:9 HD version: 1080i 16:9 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific (Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International) |
| Sister channels | Star Chinese Movies |
| History | |
| Launched | 21 October 1991 |
| Closed | 2 July 2020 (SD, Brunei) |
| Replaced by | Phoenix Chinese Channel (Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Verizon Vision | Channel 728 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| CATV (Taiwan) | Channel 31 |
| SkyCable (Philippines) | Channel 95 (Digital) |
| Destiny Cable (Philippines) | Channel 95 (Digital) Channel 115 (Analog) |
| Cablelink (Philippines) | Channel 249 |
| Cable TV Hong Kong (Hong Kong) | Channel 332 |
| Virgin Media (United Kingdom) | Channel 771 |
| Satellite | |
| MNC Vision (Indonesia) | Channel 170 |
| Sky (United Kingdom) | Channel 794 |
| OSN (Middle East) | Channel 750 |
| Transvision (Indonesia) | Channel 380 |
| Astro (Malaysia) | Channel 315 (HD) |
| IPTV | |
| Unifi TV (Malaysia) | Channel 232 (HD) |
| Now TV (Hong Kong) | Channel 160 (HD) |
| Singtel TV (Singapore) | Channel 507 (HD/VOD) |
| StarHub TV (Singapore) | Channel 822 (HD) |
| TOT iptv (Thailand) | Channel 206 |
| My.T (Mauritius) | Channel 96 |
History
One of the five original channels of Star TV, Star Chinese Channel was launched on 21 October 1991 at 16:30 Hong Kong Time, the channel originally targeted audiences in Greater China broadcasting in both Mandarin and Cantonese. It is 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 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). STAR TV later launched a separate international version of Star Chinese Channel which is available in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China and Southeast Asia.
At one point, the channel's operation was moved from British Hong Kong to Taipei, Taiwan.
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]
Availability
Taiwan
Star Chinese Channel (衛視中文台)
Star Entertainment Channel (星衛娛樂台): an alternative channel available on CHT MOD IPTV platform and certain cable television providers.
Hong Kong and Southeast Asia
A Southeast Asia Version Launches in 2006 Across in Southeast Asia, and Launches in 2012 in Hong Kong The Channel are Aired Star Chinese Channel Original Shows, Also Aired Variety Show From another Television Network and Chinese Dramas From China or Taiwan for FOX Network Group Asia Distribution (New Release Drama are Only Available Selection Countries, All Countries are Aired After Month).
- The Channel Current Available: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Former areas
Mainland China (Replaced by Phoenix Chinese Channel)
A version of Star Chinese Channel was also available in the New Zealand, United States and Canada, along with Star Chinese Movies. But both channels have since ceased operation in the area Since 2018.
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