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Star+

From Alfawiki
Star+
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryStreaming service
FoundedAugust 31, 2021; 5 years ago (2021-08-31)
FateMerged into Disney+ on 26 June 2024; service ceased on 24 July 2024
Area served
Ibero-America
ProductsStreaming media
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
ParentDisney Entertainment

Star+ (also known as Star Plus and stylized as ST★R+) was a subscription-based over-the-top streaming platform accessible throughout most countries in Ibero-America. Operated by The Walt Disney Company under its Disney Entertainment division, Star+ provided an extensive catalog of content from Disney-owned entities including 20th Television, 20th Century Studios, FX Networks, National Geographic, and Hulu. Additionally, it featured third-party programming sourced from Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Global. The service also incorporated live sports broadcasts via ESPN.

On 26 June 2024, the content library of Star+ was merged into Disney+ as part of a strategic consolidation initiative, which resulted in the standalone Star+ service ceasing operations on 24 July 2024.

Origins

The "Star" name originated with a Hong Kong-based satellite television broadcaster, an acronym for "Satellite Television Asian Region." Established by Hutchison Whampoa in 1990, it was purchased by News Corporation in 1993. Post-2009, the Star brand was primarily associated with Star China Media and Star India, the latter focusing on vernacular Indian programming worldwide. The Asia Pacific operations transitioned from the Star brand to Fox International Channels' regional division. Both Star India and Fox Networks Group's Asia Pacific operations were acquired by Walt Disney following its purchase of 21st Century Fox on 20 March 2019.

On 5 August 2020, Disney CEO Bob Chapek revealed plans to introduce a new global general entertainment streaming service under the "Star" brand in 2021. This strategy replaced earlier intentions to expand Hulu internationally, which remains predominantly US-centric except for Japan. Chapek highlighted that Hulu lacks significant international brand recognition, whereas Star enjoys stronger global familiarity outside the United States.

Trademark Conflict with Lionsgate

In April 2021, Disney faced a legal challenge regarding trademark rights from Lionsgate's Starz Entertainment concerning the use of the Star name in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Disney was given five days to respond to the lawsuit filed in Brazil, causing the launch of Star+ in Ibero-America to be postponed until 31 August 2021.

While Disney initially prevailed in this dispute, it subsequently lost an appeal in Brazilian courts in July 2021. By August, both companies reached an agreement resolving the branding conflict, enabling Star+ to launch on schedule and leading to dismissal of the lawsuit.

In June 2022, Disney and Lionsgate announced a bundled streaming offering in select Ibero-American markets combining Disney+, Star+, and Lionsgate's Starzplay. On 28 September 2022, Lionsgate globally rebranded Starzplay as Lionsgate+ (excluding the US, Canada, and Cuba), thereby settling the naming dispute with Disney’s Star+ platform.

Integration into Disney+

On 12 December 2023, The Walt Disney Company Latin America publicized plans to discontinue the Star+ service and fold both the Star and ESPN content hubs into Disney+ by 26 June 2024. The original shutdown date for the standalone Star+ app was set for 30 June 2024 but was later extended to 24 July 2024. This consolidation was subtly communicated to current Star+ subscribers via a brief announcement video that has since been removed following full integration.

Content

Star+ operated in a manner akin to the Star content section launched on Disney+ in various countries on 23 February 2021. It provided a diverse selection of general entertainment sourced from Disney’s studios, serving as a complement to Disney+, while also featuring live sports coverage from ESPN.

Original programming

The platform produced exclusive original content tailored for nearly every Ibero-American market, accessible solely through Star+.

American football

Association football

Asia

Europe

Belgium

England

France

Germany

Italy

Netherlands

Portugal

Scotland

Spain

Turkey

South America

Argentina

Brazil

Ecuador

Peru

Uruguay

North America

Mexico

United States

Australian rules football

Motorsports

Baseball

United States

Mexico

Basketball

United States

Africa

Europe

Boxing

Combat sport

Cycling

Field Hockey

  • Men's and Women's FIH Hockey World Cup
  • Euro Hockey League for men and women
  • Metropolitano de Hockey for men and women

Golf

  • The Masters Tournament
  • PGA Championship
  • U.S. Open Golf Championship
  • The Open Championship
  • PGA Tour

Hockey

Polo

  • Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo
  • Campeonato Abierto de Hurlingham
  • Campeonato Abierto del Tortugas Country Club
  • U.S. Open Polo Championship

Rugby

Table Tennis

Tennis

Volleyball

Availability

Star+ could be accessed through web browsers on both PC and Mac platforms, as well as via applications compatible with iOS, Apple TV, Android and Android TV, Fire TV and Fire HD, Chromecast, Roku, WebOS, and Tizen OS devices. The service was additionally supported on gaming consoles such as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, along with computers operating on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Launch rollout timeline
Release date Region Country/territory
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 North America Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
South America Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
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