 Logo used since 2018 | |
| Type | Television Channel |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Broadcast area | Worldwide (Except in Iran, the UK and North Korea) |
| Headquarters | Mumbai,Maharashtra,India |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English (1991–2000) Hindi (1996–present) |
| Picture format | 1080iHDTV (downscaled toletterboxed576i/480i for theSDTV feed)SD & HD Feeds Available |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | JioStar |
| History | |
| Launched | 15 December 1991; 34 years ago (15 December 1991) |
| Replaced by | Utsav Plus (Europe) |
| Links | |
| Website | Star Plus on JioHotstar |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Disney+ Hotstar | Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand,Vietnam,Canada,United Kingdom,Bangladesh andSingapore |
| Streaming media | |
| JioHotstar | India |
| Hulu | United States |
StarPlus is an IndianHindi-languagegeneral entertainmentpay television channel owned byJioStar, a joint venture betweenReliance Industries andDisney India. Its programming consists offamily dramas,romanticcomedies, youth-orientedreality shows,shows on crime andtelevision films.[1]
It was first launched on 15 December 1991, as Star Entertainment. At that time, it was an English language entertainment television channel, broadcasting international television shows from theUnited States,United Kingdom,Australia andNew Zealand, withZee TV being theHindi-language counterpart.[2]
On 21 February 1992, it was renamed as StarPlus.[1] This change was also seen in other countries from 1 July 1992 onwards.
After Star ended its relationship withZee TV on 30 June 2000, StarPlus was transformed completely into a Hindi-language channel from the next day - 1 July 2000 (from April 1996 to June 2000, StarPlus was a bilingual TV channel consisting ofHindi andEnglish programmes),[3] withStar World becoming the network's English-language counterpart channel.[4] The company's CEOSameer Nair and programming chiefTarun 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]
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'sATN Channel lost rights to Star programming, with viewers directed to the new streaming serviceHotstar, which was recently introduced into the Canadian market.[12]
On 4 January 2019, Star similarly shut down its linear channels in the United States, in favour of Hotstar.[13] On 14 September 2023,Dish Network andSling TV relaunched Star Plus and other Disney Star channels in the United States.[14]
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" (Same Relationship, New Thinking).[15] The signature tune was composed byShankar–Ehsaan–Loy and rendered byShreya Ghoshal.[16]
On 7 November 2016, it underwent a rebranding with the tagline "Nayi Soch" (New Thinking).[17]
On 27 May 2018, it underwent a rebranding withAlia Bhatt as the face of the campaign with the red crystal star with gold swoosh along with the tagline "Rishta Wahi, Baat Nayi" (Same Relationship, New Conversations), and signature song composed byA. R. Rahman.[18]
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.[19][20]
In 2000, StarPlus was at third position in terms of revenue and viewership after Zee TV andSony Entertainment Television while none of the series were in top 10.[21] With the launch of Indian Hindi version ofWho Wants To Be A Millionaire?,Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted byAmitabh Bachchan, emerged as a major blockbuster, becoming the number one show in 2000 followed by the launch ofEkta Kapoor'sKyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, on the same day which became the second most watched show in 2000, which soon beat KBC after the new year to the number one position, held for the next 6 years, while StarPlus emerged as the most watched channel.[21][22][23] This followedKahaani Ghar Ghar Kii in October 2000 and laterKasautii Zindagi Kay a year after it and many more produced underBalaji Telefilms which made StarPlus to achieve the highest viewership during that time, making it the channel at No. 1 position since.[24][25] Most of the series (80-90%) aired in the channel during that period were produced by Balaji Telefilms.[26] 70% of the revenue for the production house was obtained from Star then.[24] After 2006, their top rated shows started to decline in viewership and were axed one by one by the channel.[27][28] LaterSapna Babul Ka...Bidaai became the first Hindi GEC to beatKyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to the top position at that time garnering 5.28 TVR during first week January 2008.[citation needed] Until March 2008, it shuffled in and out of top ten shows.[29] In March 2008, it got 6 TVR on one of the leads Sadhana and Alekh's wedding track. Since April 2008 to September 2008, it was consistently the number one series except twice in June 2008, when it was pushed to second byKyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi andStar Parivaar Awards.[29] In the week during 5 to 11 October 2008, it was second most watched afterBalika Vadhu with 6 TVR.[30] Its highest rating garnered in the year was 8.8 TVR for theTaj Mahotsav sequence in October 2008.[31] In November 2008 overall, it was the second most watched Hindi show with averaging between 5 and 6 TVR.[32] However, during 2008, differences arouse betweenStar 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.[33][34] Both suffered some downfall after it.[35] However, after two years, they patched up andTere Liye was the show produced after it in 2010.[36][37] 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 channelColors TV in April 2009 for the first time pushing it to second position.[38][39][40] 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 onlyYeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai had maintained its ratings among the list of the Top 10 shows.[41] AfterYeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai maintaining its ratings among Top 10, few other shows likeSaath Nibhaana Saathiya,Diya Aur Baati Hum,Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?,Yeh Hai Mohabbatein andMann 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 owingCOVID-19 pandemic when production and new episodes broadcast were halted and reruns began.[42][43]
Post first lockdown, in 2020, a new line-up of shows likeAnupamaa,Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin,[44]Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 2,[45]Imlie[46] andPandya Store[47] helped StarPlus regain their position.[48][49]
From 2 October 2022, StarPlus extended its fiction airtime band to seven days a week.[50] All shows aired everyday since then.[51]
The creative team behind the new look includes Piyush Pandey, executive chairperson and creative director, Ogilvy South Asia; music composers, Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy; and singer Shreya Ghoshal, who have worked on the new signature tune.