Star (Disney+)

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For the Indian company also owned by Disney, see Star India. For Star India's streaming service, see Hotstar.

Star (Disney+)
Logo for the Star Disney+ hub.
Area servedCanada, Western Europe and parts of Asia-Pacific (see full list)
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
ParentDisney Media and Entertainment Distribution
RegistrationRequired
LaunchedFebruary 23, 2021; 6 months ago (February 23, 2021)
Current statusActive

Star (stylized as ST★R) is a content hub within the Disney+ streaming service that launched on February 23, 2021. The hub is available in a subset of countries where Disney+ is operated; including the United Kingdom, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.[1] In Latin America, a separate streaming service, Star+, was launched on August 31, 2021.

Star features television and film content intended for mature audiences, in contrast to the family- and franchise-oriented programming featured elsewhere in Disney+. This content is primarily drawn from the libraries of Disney subsidiaries including FX, Freeform, Hulu, ABC Signature, 20th Television, 20th Television Animation, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures.[2][3][1][4]

History[]

The "Star" brand originated as a Hong Kong-based satellite broadcaster which operated under that name starting in 1991, and had been acquired by News Corporation in 1993.[5] After 2009, the Star brand was mainly restricted to the now separately-owned Star China Media, as well as Star India, which operates primarily in India but also distributes Indian vernacular TV programming worldwide and the remaining Asia Pacific rebranded from Star to then Fox International Channels' regional unit.[6] Star India (as well as all of the now Fox Networks Group's Asia Pacific operations[a]) was then acquired by Walt Disney as part of its acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019.

During an earnings call on August 5, 2020, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that Disney planned to launch a new international, general entertainment service under the "Star" brand name in 2021. The plan superseded a previously announced international expansion of the majority-controlled American streaming service, Hulu, which has only expanded outside the United States to Japan.[7] Chapek argued that the Hulu is not well known outside of the US, while Star being a much more recognizable brand outside of the United States. [8]

Disney officially announced Star and Star+ on December 10, 2020 at its Investor Day Event.[9] During the event, it was announced that Star would launch as a top-level section within the Disney+ interface. Additional parental controls would be launched alongside Star's introduction. Although Star would be available at no extra cost to Disney+ subscribers, the introduction of Star would coincide with a price increase.[10] Star would launch in Canada, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore on February 23, 2021, while the service would launch in Hong Kong and Taiwan later in 2021.[11] Star+ would launch in Latin America on August 31, 2021. Star will also launch in Central and Eastern Europe, Israel and South Africa in 2022. Star will launch in South Korea on November 12, 2021. Japan is getting Star on October 27, 2021. [12]

Subsequently, the European feeds of Star Plus, Star Bharat, and Star Gold were rebranded as Utsav Plus, Utsav Bharat and Utsav Gold respectively on January 22, 2021 to avoid confusion with the streaming hub.[13]

Content[]

Main article: List of Star (Disney+) original programming

Star includes a range of content produced or otherwise owned by Disney and its subsidiaries, including television programs produced by ABC Signature, 20th Television, FXP, and their divisions and predecessors, as well films from the 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Hollywood Pictures libraries. Much of the TV content was originally produced for Disney-owned networks and services such as ABC, Hulu, FX, and Freeform. Other programs were originally commissioned by third-party networks, but have been made available on Star because Disney has retained the international distribution rights.[3]

Star does not have licensed content from third parties, except in Europe due to domestic content quotas. In particular, Star will not have most content produced for Disney's networks by outside studios, as the latter companies sell the international broadcasting rights for their respective shows.[8] However, in France, due to regulations mandating a quota of domestic content on streaming services, the service has licensed French content from local creators (such as Gaumont Film Company).[14][15][16]

Launch[]

  Available
  Confirmed launch
Launch rollout timeline
Launch date Country / Territory
February 23, 2021[17][18]  Australia
 Austria
 Belgium
 Canada
 Denmark
 Finland
 France
 Germany
 Iceland
 Ireland
 Italy
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 New Zealand
 Norway
 Portugal
 Singapore
 Spain
 Sweden
  Switzerland
 United Kingdom
October 27, 2021[19]  Japan
November 12, 2021[19]  South Korea
November 2021  Hong Kong
 Taiwan
Mid 2022[20][21][22]  Andorra
 Bulgaria
 Czech Republic
 Greece
 Hungary
 Israel
 Liechtenstein
 Poland
 Romania
 Serbia
 South Africa
 Turkey

Notes[]

  1. ^ Although, the Asia Pacific operations do operate "Star"-branded TV services to date, to varying degrees. Not to be confused with the Japanese premium TV network of the same name, which albeit then a co-owned venture with three Japanese partners, is now a wholly separate business as the former 21st Century Fox sold its stake before the Disney acquisition completed.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Alexander, Julia (December 10, 2020). "Disney unveils Star, its Hulu replacement for international Disney Plus subscribers". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  2. ^ "Disney will fuel international growth with Star brand and Star+ app". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "R-Rated Features, MA TV Coming to Disney+ Overseas via Star Catalog". CBR. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  4. ^ December 11, 2020, Samuel Roberts. "Disney Plus UK will get heaps more TV shows and movies via Star in 2021". TechRadar. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Tam, Luisa (July 27, 1993). "News buys Star TV". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Chu, Karen (August 18, 2009). "News Corp. confirms STAR TV breakup". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Disney + to raise its subscription fees, announces 'Star' international streaming service". GSMArena.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Alexander, Julia (August 4, 2020). "Disney is launching a new Star-branded streaming service internationally". The Verge. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Disney Investor Day 2020". The Walt Disney Company. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Alexander, Julia (December 11, 2020). "Disney finally revealed the real Disney Plus". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  11. ^ Smith, Chris (December 11, 2020). "Disney+ is getting its first price hike, but it's going to be totally worth it". Boy Genius Report. Archived from the original ([dead link]) on December 11, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  12. ^ Frater, Patrick (September 7, 2021). "Disney Plus Sets Dates for Korea Launch, Japan Upgrade". Variety. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Kriek, Jarco (December 30, 2020). "Ziggo voert zenderaanpassingen door". Totaal TV (in Dutch). Veronica Uitgeverij BV. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  14. ^ Florian Mihu (February 16, 2021). "Fais pas Ci, Fais pas Ça et Je Te Promets arrivent sur Disney+" (in French). Disneyphile. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  15. ^ CTC (February 16, 2021). "Disney+ : 10 séries européennes dont 4 françaises annoncées" (in French). AlloCiné. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (November 26, 2020). "France Leading Charge With E.U. Directive to Get Streamers to Invest in Local Content". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. ^ White, Peter (December 10, 2020). "Disney To Launch General Entertainment Streaming Service Star Globally In February". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  18. ^ Keane, Sean (January 28, 2021). "Disney Plus reveals full lineup of Star movies and shows". CNET. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b Frater, Patrick (September 7, 2021). "Disney Plus Sets Dates for Korea Launch, Japan Upgrade". Variety. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  20. ^ Sprangler, Todd (August 12, 2021). "Disney Plus Tops Expectations, Reaches 116 Million Subscribers". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  21. ^ Ryan, Drew (August 3, 2021). "Disney+ Eastern Europe Launch Countries Revealed Featuring Bonus South Africa". DejaViewstream. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  22. ^ Lang, Brad (February 19, 2021). "Disney+ might be coming to South Africa sooner than expected…". Stuff South Africa. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
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