STAR Plus

This article is about the Hindi television channel. For the streaming service in Latin America, see Star+.
"STAR Plus" redirects here. For the English-language channel formerly known as the original incarnation of Star Plus, see Star World. For the European channel formerly known as Star Plus, see Utsav Plus.

StarPlus
TypeTelevision Channel
CountryIndia
Broadcast areaInternational (Except Pakistan, Iran and UK)
United States (2004–2019, 2023–present)
NetworkDisney Star
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Programming
Language(s)English (1992–2000)
Hindi (1996–present)
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 576i/480i for the SDTV feed) SD & HD Feeds Available
Ownership
OwnerDisney India
Sister channelsDisney Star Channels
History
Launched21 February 1992; 31 years ago (21 February 1992)
Replaced byUtsav Plus (Europe)
Links
WebsiteStar Plus on Disney+ Hotstar
Availability
Streaming media
Disney+ HotstarIndia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, United Kingdom, Bangladesh and Singapore
HuluUnited States

StarPlus is an Indian Hindi language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Disney Star which is wholly owned by Disney India. Its programming consists of family dramas, comedies, youth-oriented reality shows, shows on crime and television films.[1]

History

When it was first launched on 21 February 1992,[1] StarPlus was an English language entertainment television channel, broadcasting international television shows from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, with Zee TV being the Hindi-language counterpart.[2]

After Star ended its relationship with Zee TV on 31 March 1996, StarPlus was transformed completely into a Hindi-language channel (from April 1996 to June 2000, StarPlus was a bilingual TV channel consisting of Hindi and English programmes),[3] with Star World becoming the network's English-language counterpart channel.[4] The company's CEO Sameer Nair and programming chief Tarun Katial introduced a number of new shows, which helped solidify the channel's position as a large influence in Hindi-language television broadcasting.[5][6][7]

The channel launched in the United States in November 2004.[8]

The channel's high-definition feed was launched on 15 April 2011.[9] It carries the same schedule as the SD feed, but with different commercials.

StarPlus HD was set to launch in both the United Kingdom and Ireland by the end of 2011,[10] but it was delayed until 5 July 2012.[11]

On 6 October 2017, Canada's ATN Channel lost rights to Star programming, with viewers directed to the new streaming service Hotstar, which was recently introduced into the Canadian market.[12] On 1 October 2023, ATN relaunched Star Plus in Canada.[13]

On 4 January 2019, Star similarly shut down its linear channels in the United States, in favour of Hotstar.[14][15] On 14 September 2023, Dish Network and Sling TV relaunched Star Plus and other Disney Star channels in the United States.[16]

Rebranding

A variation of StarPlus logo used from 2001-2010

On 1 April 2001, the logo transformed yellow to blue and white, now cutting star.

On 14 June 2010, it underwent a rebranding along with a change from the blue rectangular logo to a ruby red star with the tagline "Rishta Wahi, Soch Nayi".[17]

On 7 November 2016, it underwent a rebranding with the tagline "Nayi Soch".[18]

On 27 May 2018, it underwent a rebranding with Alia Bhatt as the face of the campaign with the red crystal star with gold swoosh along with the tagline "Rishta Wahi, Baat Nayi" and signature song composed by A. R. Rahman.[19]

On 30 December 2020, Disney announced that the Star branding in the Netherlands would be replaced with Utsav from 22 January 2021. On 22 January 2021, StarPlus became Utsav Plus in the UK and Europe.[20][21]

Reception

In 2000, StarPlus was at third position in terms of revenue and viewership after Zee TV and Sony Entertainment Television while none of the series were in top 10.[22] With the launch of Indian Hindi version of Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, the show became an instant hit becoming number one show followed by the launch of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, on the same day which became second most watched after it which soon beat the latter to number one position while StarPlus soon became the most watched channel.[22][23][24] This followed Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii in October 2000 and later Kasautii Zindagi Kay a year after it and many more produced under Balaji Telefilms which made StarPlus to achieve the highest viewership during that time making the channel at No. 1 position since.[25][26] Most of the series (80-90%) aired in the channel during that period were produced by Balaji Telefilms.[27] 70% of the revenue for the production house was obtained from Star then.[25]

After 2006, their top rated shows started to decline in viewership and were axed one by one by the channel.[28][29] However, during 2008, differences arouse between Star India and Balaji due to termination of their serials over declining ratings, cancellation of joint venture for regional content in South India and as a result the agreement of Balaji buying Star's stake was terminated.[30][31] Both suffered some downfall after it.[32] However, after two years, they patched up and Tere Liye was the show produced after it in 2010.[33][34] During the slight downfall in viewership in the end of the 2000s the No.1 position dominated by it for nine years continuously was beaten by the rival channel Colors TV in April 2009 for the first time pushing it to second position.[35][36][37] During last week of May 2009, it was beaten by Zee TV for the first time in nine years, pushing it to third position and only Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai has maintained its ratings among Top 10.[38]

After Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai maintaining its ratings among Top 10, few other shows like Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, Sapna Babul Ka...Bidaai, Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, Diya Aur Baati Hum and Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya helped StarPlus to regain their position into Top 10.[1]

On week 12 of 2020, while it dropped to fifth position in Hindi GEC while overall at sixth position in India, the following week the channel did not even feature in top ten Indian channels owing COVID-19 pandemic when production and new episodes broadcast were halted and reruns began.[39][40] However, in week 15 it returned to the top ten.[41][failed verification]

Post first lockdown, in 2020, a new lineup of shows like Anupamaa, Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin,[42] Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2,[43] Imlie[44] and Pandya Store[45] helped StarPlus regain their position.[46][47]

Programming

Main article: List of programmes broadcast by StarPlus

From 2 October 2022, StarPlus extended its fiction airtime band to seven days a week.[48] All shows aired everyday since then.[49]

Programming blocks

Title Year(s) aired Note(s)
Fox Kids[50] 2001–2004 Indian version of children's programming block
Disney Time[51] 2005 Disney Branded Television block
StarPlus Dopahar 2017 On 3 April 2017, Star brought back its afternoon programming which was shut down eight years ago with the launch of 4 new soap operas from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (IST).[52][53] It was later extended up to 3:00 pm with Love Ka Hai Intezaar in May 2017 but was again made 2 hours from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm as the soap Tu Sooraj Main Saanjh Piyaji was shifted to prime time.[54] Due to low ratings than expected, it was cancelled by the channel on 30 September in the same year.[55]

Sister Channels

Star Bharat

Star Bharat (formerly Life Ok) is an Indian Hindi Entertainment pay television Channel owned by Disney Star which is wholly owned by Disney India which primarily telecasts dramas, crime and comedy shows.

Star Gold

Main article: Star Gold Network

Star Utsav

Star Utsav is an Indian Hindi Entertainment pay television Channel owned by Disney Star. which is Wholly owned by Disney India which primarily telecasts reruns of popular shows from STAR Plus and Bharat India.

Star Utsav Movies

Star Utsav Movies is an Indian Hindi movie pay television Channel owned by Disney Star. which is wholly owned by Disney India.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Description about the Channel Star Plus". Times Of India.
  2. ^ Flegg, Michael (10 September 2001). "India's Star TV Leaps to Top Spot Due to Game Shows, Soap Operas". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 19 September 2001.
  3. ^ "See Change". The Week.
  4. ^ "Zee: Life after Star, and vice-versa". Equity Master.
  5. ^ "Sameer Nair: The creative strategist". Live Mint.
  6. ^ "There and back again: Subhash Chandra and the Zee TV story". Live Mint.
  7. ^ "History Star Plus Global". Star Plus Global. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  8. ^ "YuppTV Launches Star Plus and Life OK Channels in USA". Business Wire.
  9. ^ "Star TV India Launches Five HD Channels". Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ^ Star Plus UK to launch HD Channel – http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2011/02/exclusive_star_5.php
  11. ^ Star Plus HD UK date confirmed – http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/star-plus-hd-to-launch-in-july-in-uk
  12. ^ "&TV replace Star Plus to be part of the ATN HD channel". Asian Television.
  13. ^ Limited, Asian Television Network International. "ATN to launch Disney Star's channels exclusively in Canada". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Starting January 5, STAR India's TV Channels will be streaming ONLY on Hotstar in the US". PR Newswire.
  15. ^ Baddhan, Raj (7 December 2018). "Star TV to shutdown television operations in USA". BizAsia. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  16. ^ "MyDISH". my.dish.com. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Star Plus to sport new logo, tagline in battle for top slot". Live Mint.
  18. ^ "How an ad campaign 'challenged stereotypes' and affected a 'cultural shift'". Business Standard.
  19. ^ "Alia Bhatt becomes fresh face of Star Plus new look". The Indian Express.
  20. ^ "Disney Renaming Star Channels In The Netherlands | What's On Disney Plus". 30 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Exclusive: First look at Star TV's new Utsav TV branding". 11 January 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Kaun Banega Crorepati mesmerises people as Star TV bets Rs 75 crore on Amitabh Bachchan". India Today.
  23. ^ Bhushan, Nyay (4 November 2008). "Court ends run of India's top soap". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  24. ^ Sinha, Ashish (20 January 2013). "Sony does a Star Plus". Business Standard India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Star likely to divest its 25.9% stake in Balaji Telefilms". Live Mint.
  26. ^ "Sony does a Star Plus". Business Standard.
  27. ^ "STAR, Balaji rediscover their love". Business Standard.
  28. ^ "With falling TRPs, channel share, pricey actors, entertainment television faces the heat". India Today.
  29. ^ "Star India sells 26% stake in Balaji Telefilms for 108 crore". Live Mint.
  30. ^ "Balaji, Star TV at war!". Rediff.
  31. ^ "Star, Balaji have finally parted ways". Live Mint.
  32. ^ "Balaji Telefilms falls 13% Star unit terminates TV serial" – via The Economic Times.
  33. ^ "The return of Ekta". Fortune India.
  34. ^ "The latest offering from TV's soap queen". Rediff.
  35. ^ "Colors beats Star Plus with highest viewership". Live Mint. 16 April 2009.
  36. ^ "Star attraction". The Financial Express.
  37. ^ "Success Strategy| Colors: making a mark with content". Live Mint. 10 March 2009.
  38. ^ "Zee overtakes Star first time in 10 years". Live Mint. 3 June 2009.
  39. ^ "BARC week 12: colors grabs second position on pay platform and urban market". Indian Television dot com.
  40. ^ "Ramayan Re-Telecasting Helps Doordarshan To Claim Top Spot In Trp". The Times of India.
  41. ^ "Larger networks takeover free Across Genres list as Star Utsav tops All Platforms". Indian Television dot com.
  42. ^ "TV Rating War: Anupamaa gets tough fight from Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin". India Today.
  43. ^ "Saath Nibhana Saathiya 2 debuts at No. 3 on TRP chart". The Indian Express. 31 October 2020.
  44. ^ "TV Rating War sees new show Imlie and Ekta Kapoor's Yeh Hai Chahatein enter Top 5". India Today.
  45. ^ "TRP Race: After Udaariyaan, Pandya Store is the New Entry in Top 5". News18. 16 October 2021.
  46. ^ "Rupali Ganguly Starrer Anupamaa's Team Celebrates as Show Tops Ratings for Over Two Years". Zee News.
  47. ^ "TRP Race: Rupali Ganguly's Anupamaa Breaks its Own Record of 4 Million Viewership". News18. 13 November 2021.
  48. ^ Trivedi, Tanvi. "Shooting 7 days in a week will be exhausting not only for actors, but even technicians: Gaurav Mukesh - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  49. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Star Plus extends fiction shows to seven days a week". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  50. ^ "Star Toons". The Tribune. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  51. ^ "Disney takes up weekend branded block on DD". Indiantelevision.com. 15 November 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  52. ^ Laghate, Gaurav (27 February 2017). "Star Plus to reboot afternoon slot with 4 new shows". The Economic Times.
  53. ^ "2017 a year of rebranding and extending time slots for Hindi GECs". Indian Television dot com.
  54. ^ "Star Dopahar back to airing 2 hours of content, Dhhai Kilo Prem and Love Ka Hai Intezaar get new time slots". The Indian Express. 12 July 2017.
  55. ^ "Star Dopahar to call it a day, all shows to end on September 30". The Indian Express. 8 September 2017.

External links