Star Sports (India) Explained

Star Sports Network
Owner:JioStar
Type:Sports
Picture Format:1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 576i for the SDTV feed)
Country:India
Area:Indian subcontinent
Language:English
Hindi
Tamil
Telugu
Kannada
Malayalam
Key People:Nita Ambani
Uday Shankar
Sister Channels:JioStar Channels
Headquarters:Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Online Serv 1:JioHotstar
Online Chan 1:India

The Star Sports Network is a group of Indian pay television sports channels owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India, The network currently holds rights of flagship tournaments like International Cricket Council events, Indian Premier League, Premier League, ONE Championship, Wimbledon, Indian Super League etc.

The networks were initially formed in 1991 as a joint venture between Star TV and Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) known as Prime Sports, taking their name from TCI's U.S. regional sports networks of the same name. In 1996, Star agreed to merge its sports networks in Asia with those of its rival ESPN, forming ESPN Star Sports. In June 2012, News Corporation acquired ESPN's stake in the joint venture; its corporate successor 21st Century Fox was, in turn, acquired by ESPN's majority-owner the Walt Disney Company in 2019.

Star Sports is a major broadcaster of cricket in India, holding the pay television rights to domestic national team matches, the Indian Premier League, and International Cricket Council tournaments. Streaming rights to many Star Sports properties are held in India by sister streaming service JioHotstar.

History

Hong Kong-based Star TV launched Prime Sports (later renamed Star Sports) in partnership with American company TCI, which owned Prime-branded regional sports channels. The channel was broadcast across Asia, including India, as with the footprint of AsiaSat 7. Star TV has since regionalized the channel with several versions. Later, ESPN joined the region as a competitor to Star Sports.[1]

In October 1996, Star Sports announced an agreement to merge its operations with those of ESPN International in the region, forming a Singapore-based joint venture known as ESPN Star Sports.[2] [3]

In June 2012, it was announced that Star TV, by then owned by News Corporation, would acquire ESPN's share in ESPN Star Sports.[4] [5] The sale was completed in January 2013.[6] [7] On 11 March 2013, Star Sports 2, a Hindi-language sports channel, was launched as a sister channel to Star Sports, Star Cricket and ESPN.[8]

On 6 November 2013, Star Sports introduced a new brand identity and re-aligned its channels in India;[9] Star Sports became Star Sports 1; Star Cricket became Star Sports 3, a Hindi language channel; ESPN became Star Sports 4 and on 28 May 2017 Star Sports 4 became Star Sports 1 Tamil a Tamil language Sports channel, and Star Cricket HD and ESPN HD became Star Sports HD1 and HD2 respectively.[10] [11] In Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, the ESPN Star Sports channels were relaunched by Fox International Channels Asia Pacific as Fox Sports.[12] [13] [14] [15] ESPN International later established a partnership with Multi-Screen Media in October 2015, which rebranded Sony Kix as Sony ESPN in January 2016.[16]

Star India planned to replace the troubled Channel V with Star Sports 1 Kannada on 16 November 2017, but the delay in regulatory approval meant the plan was postponed. Later, Star India replaced Channel V into the current iteration of Star Sports 3 on 15 September 2018,[17] [18] [19] [20] and launched Star Sports 1 Telugu and Star Sports 1 Kannada as new channels on 7 and 29 December 2018, respectively.[21] [22] In the meantime, Kannada commentary of Star Sports' coverage of the Indian Premier League was broadcast on Star Suvarna.[23]

21st Century Fox was acquired by Disney on 19 March 2019, giving it ownership of Star Sports.[24]

Ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League—whose streaming rights would now be owned by JioCinema—Star Sports announced that it would launch feeds of Star Sports 1 Tamil and Telugu in HD on 15 March 2023. Concurrently, the Bangla and Marathi feeds were discontinued.[25] In June 2023, in response to JioCinema's decision to stream every IPL 2023 match for free, Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar announced that the 2023 Asia Cup and 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup would stream for free on mobile devices.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Fabrikant . Geraldine . 4 March 1996 . Broadcasters Bet on Sports As First Step In New Markets . . live . 10 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190427161343/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/04/business/broadcasters-bet-on-sports-as-first-step-in-new-markets.html . 27 April 2019.
  2. News: Sullivan . Maureen . Asian TV team christens venture ESPN Star Sports . 11 January 2019 . . January 15, 1997 . 11 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190111232707/https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/asian-tv-team-christens-venture-espn-star-sports-1117433553/ . live .
  3. News: October 9, 1996 . Rival sport channels ESPN, Star TV team up together . . live . 11 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190111190333/https://adage.com/article/news/rival-sport-channels-espn-star-tv-team/11852/ . 11 January 2019.
  4. News: Szalai . Georg . News Corp. to Buy Out ESPN's Stake in Asian TV Venture . 8 January 2019 . . 6 June 2012 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200807/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/news-corp-buy-espn-asia-stake-334177 . live .
  5. News: Steel . Emily . News Corp to take over ESPN Star Sports . 8 January 2019 . . June 7, 2012 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200820/https://www.ft.com/content/2d4428ce-affa-11e1-ad0b-00144feabdc0 . live .
  6. News: Engineer . Tariq . As ESPN turns to Fox, expect more local Indian sports programming . 8 January 2019 . Firstpost . 31 January 2013 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108202856/https://www.firstpost.com/sports/as-espn-turns-to-fox-expect-more-local-indian-sports-programming-608585.html . live .
  7. News: January 28, 2013 . ESPN STAR Sports to be under STAR in India . . 8 January 2019 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108201238/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/espn-star-sports-to-be-under-star-in-india-113012800056_1.html . live .
  8. News: ESPN Star Sports launches new channel . 10 January 2019 . . 7 March 2013 . . 10 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183652/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/7IEVw8wGZQb6BtCS0U8bvK/ESPN-Star-Sports-launches-new-channel.html . live .
  9. Web site: 6 November 2013 . STAR India rebrands; sheds 'ESPN' branding . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042411/http://www.afaqs.com/news/story/39137_STAR-India-rebrands-sheds-ESPN-branding . 14 March 2018 . 13 March 2018 . www.afaqs.com . en.
  10. News: Star Sports: A new logo, packaging & brand identity . 10 January 2019 . Indian Television . 8 November 2013 . 10 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190110184426/http://www.indiantelevision.com/mam/media-and-advertising/ad-campaigns/star-sports-a-new-logo-packaging-brand-identity . live .
  11. News: Star junks ESPN brand, launches Star Sports with 6 channels and website . 10 January 2019 . MxM . 6 November 2013 . 12 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230312160738/https://www.mxmindia.com/2013/11/star-junks-espn-brand-launches-star-sports-with-6-channels-and-website/ . live .
  12. News: Terrado . Reuben . ESPN fades off in Asia as Fox takes over . 8 January 2019 . Spin.ph . 9 January 2013 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200822/https://www.spin.ph/multisport/espn-fades-off-in-asia-as-fox-sports-takes-over . live .
  13. News: Chan . U-Gene . ESPN network to be renamed FOX Sports in Singapore, Asia . 8 January 2019 . . 24 January 2013 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200636/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/espn-network-to-be-renamed-fox-sports-in-singapore-asia . live .
  14. News: Christensen . Nic . Fox to reorganises its sports channels . 8 January 2019 . . July 4, 2014 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200942/https://www.mumbrella.asia/2014/07/fox-reorganises-sports-channels . live .
  15. News: Valisno . Jeffrey O. . Fox completes rebranding of sports channels . 8 January 2019 . . August 26, 2014 . 8 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108201242/http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Arts&Leisure&title=fox-completes-rebranding-of-sports-channels&id=93364 . dead .
  16. Web site: SONY ESPN, SONY ESPN HD to launch on Jan 17th . 2022-10-31 . Exchange4media . en . 31 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031002111/https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv-news/sony-espnsony-espn-hd-to-launch-on-jan-17th-62958.html . live .
  17. News: Bansal . Shuchi . Star India tuning out of Channel V . 10 January 2019 . . 16 November 2017 . 3 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190403110411/https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/IbmvKfRcewrLcKYCEEla1O/Star-India-tuning-out-of-Channel-V.html . live .
  18. News: Bhagia . Raushni . Star India to replace Channel V with Star Sports 3 . 10 January 2019 . Best Media Info . 23 August 2018 . 25 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180825043535/http://bestmediainfo.com/2018/08/star-india-to-replace-channel-v-with-star-sports-3/ . live .
  19. News: Star to launch Star Sports 3, continue sports investments: Gautam Thakar . 10 January 2019 . Indian Television . 24 August 2018 . 10 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190110235207/http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/sports/star-to-re-launch-star-sports-3-continue-sports-investments-gautam-thakar-180824 . live .
  20. News: Star India to launch multi-lingual channel Star Sports 3 on 15 Sep . 10 January 2019 . Television Post . August 24, 2018 . 10 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190110234958/https://www.televisionpost.com/star-india-to-launch-multi-lingual-channel-star-sports-3-on-15-sep/ . live .
  21. News: Star Sports 1 Kannada to launch on 29 Dec . 10 January 2019 . Television Post . December 21, 2018 . 11 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190111054839/https://www.televisionpost.com/star-sports-1-kannada-to-launch-on-29-dec/ . live .
  22. News: Sharma . Harsh . Star Sports Kannada all set for December 29 launch . 10 January 2019 . InsideSport . 21 December 2018 . 5 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805212645/https://www.insidesport.co/star-sports-kannada-all-set-for-december-29-launch/ . live .
  23. News: Sharma . Rajender . Star Sports Kannada licence awaits clearance; IPL live on Survana . 10 January 2019 . InsideSport . 16 March 2018 . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003080058/https://www.insidesport.co/star-sports-kannada-licence-awaits-clearance-ipl-live-survana-316032018/ . live .
  24. Web site: Szalai . Georg . Bond . Paul . March 20, 2019 . Disney Closes $71.3 Billion Fox Deal, Creating Global Content Powerhouse . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190320064742/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-closes-fox-deal-creating-global-content-powerhouse-1174498 . March 20, 2019 . March 20, 2019 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  25. News: Das . Gourab . 2023-03-03 . Star Sports isn't going to let Reliance take a 'free hit' in the galactic IPL viewership battle . The Economic Times . 2023-03-13 . 0013-0389.
  26. Web site: Livemint . 2023-06-09 . Disney+ Hotstar allows free streaming of ICC World Cup 2023, Asia Cup . 2023-06-13 . mint . en.

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