Star Channel (Portugal)
| Company type | Subscription television network |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Fox (Portugal) |
| Founded | February 2003 |
| Headquarters | Portugal |
Area served | Portugal, Angola, Mozambique |
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company |
Star Channel (previously known as Fox) is a Portuguese subscription television network focusing on American television series and movies. Since 2019, it has been under the ownership of the Walt Disney Company. Its primary rival in the market is AXN. Until 2015, comedic shows originally broadcast on this channel were transferred to the Portuguese version of FX, which was later rebranded as Fox Comedy.
Under the Fox Brand
Fox made its debut in Portugal in February 2003, launching exclusively on the Cabovisão cable service on March 1. Cristina Gomez, Cabovisão’s director-general, characterized the channel as a distinctive blend of Fox studio blockbusters, Portuguese films, and prominent TV series aimed at viewers aged between 18 and 45. Although Cabovisão held only a 17% share of the pay-TV market compared to TV Cabo’s dominant 80%, Portugal was considered a key market for European expansion due to audiences’ preference for original audio with subtitles.[1] Initially, Fox aired content for 18 hours daily, featuring shows such as The Simpsons, The X-Files, Family Guy, and L.A. Law, many of which had previously been shown late at night on terrestrial television.
On September 27, 2004, Fox introduced the series Las Vegas. Its distribution broadened notably in May 2005 when it became available through TV Cabo’s Funtastic Life package, initially offered exclusively to attract digital subscribers. Within three years, Fox rose to become Portugal’s fourth most popular cable channel, trailing only AXN, SIC Notícias, and Canal Panda. Viewer numbers increased from 1,400 at launch to nearly 12,000 by October 2006, with an average monthly audience of approximately 620,000.
In 2006, Fox debuted series including Invasion, Prison Break, The Unit, and Bones, often coordinating their free-to-air premieres with RTP. In April 2009, it acquired broadcasting rights for the 34th season of Saturday Night Live. The channel expanded its footprint into Angola and Mozambique through DStv Bué in February 2009, supported by targeted local marketing efforts.
The high-definition version launched on MEO in July 2009—making Portugal the third territory after Italy and Latin America to receive it—and was subsequently rolled out across other providers. By February 2010, Fox was accessible to ZON’s analog and digital basic subscribers.
Significant programming milestones included airing the finale of Lost almost simultaneously with the U.S. broadcast in May 2010 and promotional initiatives for premieres like The Walking Dead in November 2010—featuring a zombie-themed campaign aimed at university students—and Hawaii Five-0 in early 2011 accompanied by themed events.
Marking its tenth anniversary in March 2013, Fox embraced the global I Love Fox campaign. During Carnaval in February 2015, it premiered the television adaptation of Porta dos Fundos, designating February 17 as National Hangover Day with special programming. In February 2020, a social media-driven campaign supported the launch of The Walking Dead season ten.
Transition to Star Channel
On November 27, 2023, Disney revealed plans to rename Fox as Star Channel effective February 7, 2024. The refreshed brand identity incorporates a "luminous shooting star," symbolizing guidance through its curated content. The programming schedule will largely remain consistent following the rebrand. This campaign, which includes the track A Brilliant Change, was created by The Walt Disney Company's Portuguese marketing division and rolled out across the EMEA region.
Current programming
Source:[2]
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- CSI: Miami
- Chicago P.D
- FBI
- FBI: Most Wanted
- Found
- Hawaii Five-0 (also known as Hawai Força Especial)
- NCIS: Los Angeles (titled Investigação Criminal: Los Angeles)
- NCIS: Sydney (referred to as Investigação Criminal: Sydney)
- Rules of Engagement (previously broadcast on AXN White and Star Comedy)
- SEAL Team
Additionally, the channel features movies during weekend programming.
Former programming
- 24
- The 4400
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Alaska Daily
- Alien Nation
- American Dad!
- American Horror Story
- The Americans
- Angel
- Batman
- Being Human (known as Humanos)
- Blindspot
- Bones (titled Ossos)
- Breakout Kings (referred to as Os Reis da Fuga)
- The Bridge
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (also called Buffy, Caçadora de Vampiros)
- Burn Notice (known as Espião Fora-de-Jogo)
- Californication
- Camelot
- The Cell
- The Chicago Code
- The Cleaner
- The Cleveland Show
- Cold Case
- Covert Affairs (titled Agente Dupla)
- Crusoe (known as Crusoé)
- CSI: Vegas
- Da Vinci's Demons
- Day Break
- The Dead Zone
- The Defenders (called Defesa à Las Vegas)
- Defying Gravity (also known as Gravidade Zero)
- Desperate Housewives (titled Donas de Casa Desesperadas)
- Dexter
- The Dresden Files
- Elementary
- Elsbeth
- The Equalizer
- Eureka
- Family Guy
- FBI: International
- The Finder
- Fire Country
- Flashpoint
- The Forgotten
- Fringe
- Futurama
- The Gates
- Ghost Whisperer (known as Em Contacto)
- The Glades
- Gotham
- Harper's Island (referred to as A Ilha)
- Heroes
- Homeland (titled Segurança Nacional)
- House
- How I Met Your Mother (previously aired on Fox Life)
- Huff
- Invasion (also called Invasão)
- The Irrational
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (formerly on FX)
- John Doe
- King of the Hill
- The Killing
- L.A. Law
- Las Vegas
- Lie to Me
- Life on Mars
- The Listener
- Lost (known as Perdidos)
- Lou Grant
- Law & Order along with its related spin-offs
- Magnum P.I.
... [the list continues including numerous other prominent international shows that have shaped the channel's programming history]
(The extensive former lineup comprises a wide range of globally recognized titles that have significantly influenced the channel's audience engagement.)