Star! Scandinavia
Encyclopedia
Star! Scandinavia is a television channel in northern Europe that is devoted to entertainment and celebrity news and programming. The channel is managed by Scandinavian television broadcaster NonStop Television, part of Turner Broadcasting System
, TBS, Inc., which merged with Time Warner
in 1996, and now operates as a semi-autonomous unit of Time Warner.
The channel is fashioned after Star! (a former Canadian entertainment channel now branded as E!
, after the U.S.-based channel
of the same namesake) and is licensed from Bell Media (previously CTVglobemedia
and CHUM Limited
). Programming is a mix of several Bell Media television channels such as E!, FashionTelevisionChannel
, MuchMore and others. Star! Scandinavia has also shown several award shows such as the Grammy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Sundance Film Festival
and the BAFTA Film Awards.
after its American counterpart on a license with Comcast
. A fashion channel called Style
broadcast on the same channel in the afternoon. E! has licensed its name and brand identity to regional cable television networks in nearly every country worldwide. This includes an international network (set up in Europe during 2005) that is broadcast from the Netherlands
across most of Europe (i.e Scandinavia
, France
, Ireland
, the UK) , and joint-venture channels in Israel and throughout Argentina, Brazil and the rest of Latin America. In July 2004 the Scandinavian channel changed its affiliation and was renamed Star! while E! set up their own channel in Europe.
It was originally available in Sweden
, Norway
, Finland
and Denmark
, but has since extended its coverage to Iceland
, the Netherlands
, Belgium
and the Baltics. Programmes are not interrupted by commercials but placed in between programs. The channel is operated by NonStop Television, which also operates movies channels Showtime Scandinavia
and Silver
.
The channel started broadcasting terrestrially in Sweden in the autumn of 2002. It was originally broadcasting for 24 hours per day, but when new licenses where granted in February 2006 the broadcasting hours of the channel were reduced and Star! would broadcast from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. On May 1, 2010, Star! started broadcasting in South Africa
through the TopTV
pay tv operator.
On November 29, 2010, the original Star! channel in Canada became E!, following a deal between Star!'s brand owner, CTVglobemedia (now Bell Media), and Comcast. It is unknown if the rebranding will have any effect on Star! in Europe.
Turner Broadcasting System
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is the Time Warner subsidiary managing the collection of cable networks and properties started and acquired by Robert Edward "Ted" Turner starting in the mid-1970s. The company has its headquarters in the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. TBS, Inc...
, TBS, Inc., which merged with Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
in 1996, and now operates as a semi-autonomous unit of Time Warner.
The channel is fashioned after Star! (a former Canadian entertainment channel now branded as E!
E! (Canadian TV channel)
E! Entertainment Television is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel which is owned and operated by Bell Media. E! is devoted to entertainment programming including entertainment news, film, television, celebrities, and fashion...
, after the U.S.-based channel
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
of the same namesake) and is licensed from Bell Media (previously CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia
CTVglobemedia , was one of Canada's largest private media companies. Its operations include newspaper publishing , television broadcasting and production , radio broadcasting , and their respective Internet properties.Originally established by BCE and the Thomson family in 2001 combining CTV Inc.,...
and CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited
CHUM Limited was a media company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1945 to 2007. Immediately prior to its acquisition, it held full or joint control of two Canadian television systems — Citytv and A-Channel — comprising 11 local stations, and one CBC Television affiliate, one...
). Programming is a mix of several Bell Media television channels such as E!, FashionTelevisionChannel
FashionTelevisionChannel
FashionTelevisionChannel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel broadcasts programming related to fashion, modelling, photography, art, architecture and design...
, MuchMore and others. Star! Scandinavia has also shown several award shows such as the Grammy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and the BAFTA Film Awards.
History
Star! Scandinavia was launched in September 2000, but was then named E!E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
after its American counterpart on a license with Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
. A fashion channel called Style
Style Network
The Style Network is an American cable television network based in Los Angeles.Owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of General Electric and Comcast, its sister channels include E! Entertainment Television, USA Network, Syfy, G4, Golf Channel, and Versus, among others.-Network Overview:Style's...
broadcast on the same channel in the afternoon. E! has licensed its name and brand identity to regional cable television networks in nearly every country worldwide. This includes an international network (set up in Europe during 2005) that is broadcast from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
across most of Europe (i.e Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the UK) , and joint-venture channels in Israel and throughout Argentina, Brazil and the rest of Latin America. In July 2004 the Scandinavian channel changed its affiliation and was renamed Star! while E! set up their own channel in Europe.
It was originally available in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, but has since extended its coverage to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and the Baltics. Programmes are not interrupted by commercials but placed in between programs. The channel is operated by NonStop Television, which also operates movies channels Showtime Scandinavia
Showtime Scandinavia
Showtime Scandinavia is a television channel broadcasting action movies to the Nordic countries operated by NonStop Television, part of Turner Broadcasting System, TBS, Inc., which merged with Time Warner in 1996, and now operates as a semi-autonomous unit of Time Warner...
and Silver
Silver (TV channel)
Silver is a movie television channel broadcasting to the Nordic countries broadcasting quality movies, "World cinema" and independent films. The channel is managed by Scandinavian television broadcaster NonStop Television, part of Turner Broadcasting System, TBS, Inc., which merged with Time Warner...
.
The channel started broadcasting terrestrially in Sweden in the autumn of 2002. It was originally broadcasting for 24 hours per day, but when new licenses where granted in February 2006 the broadcasting hours of the channel were reduced and Star! would broadcast from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. On May 1, 2010, Star! started broadcasting in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
through the TopTV
TopTV
TopTV is a South African satellite TV service that began broadcasting on 1 May 2010. TopTV is owned by On Digital Media, who were granted a pay-TV license by ICASA in September 2007. On Digital Media is 20% owned by TV satellite operator, SES Astra...
pay tv operator.
On November 29, 2010, the original Star! channel in Canada became E!, following a deal between Star!'s brand owner, CTVglobemedia (now Bell Media), and Comcast. It is unknown if the rebranding will have any effect on Star! in Europe.