Star Television Network

For the television broadcaster in Hong Kong previously known as Star TV Network, see Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific.
For the Philippine television network known as Star Network (and also its associated break bumper used from March 1, 1987 to October 30, 2005), see ABS-CBN. For other uses, see Star TV.
Star Television Network
TypeBroadcast television network
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
AffiliatesSee § Known affiliates
HeadquartersOrlando, Florida
Ownership
OwnerLang Communications
(1989-1991)
ParentStar Television Network, Inc.
Key people
  • Harry Handley
  • Walter Windsor
  • Cathy Bamberg
  • Satellite Music Network Inc.(Investors)[1][2]
  • Dale W. Lang (Investor & Chairman)[1][2][3]
  • Ron Eikens (Chief Executive Officer)[4]
History
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
LaunchedSeptember 29, 1990 (1990-09-29)
Founder
  • Harry Handley
  • Walter Windsor
  • John Tyler[5]
ClosedJanuary 14, 1991 (1991-01-14) (3 months and 16 days)[4]

The Star Television Network (commonly branded as Starcast[6][7] initially, then STN,[8] prior to launch, then Star[9][10][11] from its launch up to the network's shutdown), was an attempt, though unsuccessful, at a fifth television network based in Orlando, Florida. The network was notable as the first television network to have featured exclusively direct response commercials and infomercials among standard programming.[12]

Star featured classic, though cheaper and lesser-known, 1950s and 1960s programming,[1] movies and game shows under the TV Heaven slogan, with direct response infomercials rounding out the schedule.[3] The network expected to buy newer programs and originate its own programming once on a firm operating status.[2]

Star was facing competition from the Home Shopping Network and Fox, which went after the bigger markets.[13] In light of this, the network explained that its key advantage is in terms of operating costs for the station, in which a station affiliating with the network could save about 90% on their programming costs, and a national advertiser advertising on the network could pay about 68% of the major network rates.[5]

  1. ^ a b c Strother, Susan G. (October 15, 1987). "New Network Would Offer TV's Oldies Orlando Broadcasters Plan To Recycle '50s, '60s Shows". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference os2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; TV Network Is Planned". New York Times. AP. July 13, 1990. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference os4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference os1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Staff, Susan G. Strother of The Sentinel. "NEW NETWORK WOULD OFFER TV'S OLDIES ORLANDO BROADCASTERS PLAN TO RECYCLE '50S, '60S SHOWS". OrlandoSentinel.com. Star Television Network Inc., which would be based in Orlando and would cost $15 million to get off the ground, would begin broadcasting the Starcast network in April, said Harry Handley, one of the principals and president of Bamberg-Handley Inc., an Orlando broadcast consultant.
  7. ^ staff, Susan Strother of the Sentinel. "-- NOW, THREE MONTHS LATER . ..." OrlandoSentinel.com. The multimillion-dollar effort is scheduled to begin broadcasting in April. Assuming all goes as planned, Starcast will not originate any programming, as other networks do, but will buy shows produced in the 1950s and 1960s for which there now is little demand.
  8. ^ Staff, Susan G. Strother of The Sentinel. "OLDIES BROADCASTS SET TO BEGIN IN JULY FINANCING AND PROGRAM NEGOTIATIONS STALLED START". OrlandoSentinel.com. Harry Handley, a principal in STN, said the start-up was delayed because of snags in both financing and negotiations with program vendors.
  9. ^ Staff, Susan G. Strother Of The Sentinel. "NETWORK PLAN NEAR DEADLINE". OrlandoSentinel.com. Windsor, whose Orlando broadcasting career included 15 years as general manager of WFTV-Channel 9, said earlier this week that he and Star's founding partners have a Sept. 1 deadline to entice enough affiliates.
  10. ^ "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; TV Network Is Planned". The New York Times. Associated Press. 13 July 1990. Mr. Lang said Star would eventually produce original programming and expects to generate product sales of more than $100 million in its second year in operation.
  11. ^ Staff, Susan G. Strother of The Sentinel. "TV NETWORK SIGNS OFF – OUT OF CASH". OrlandoSentinel.com. Star's lawyers, he said, are determining whether the network should file for bankruptcy protection.
  12. ^ "KXLT-TV to return to the airwaves in Rochester in Sept". PostBulletin.com. July 28, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2015. ...will return to the air in two months as part of Star Television Network Inc.,""...are scheduled to light up again on Sept. 29
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference os0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).