vijaytvLatest update 11/3-11: Media Asia has been in contact with STAR Vijay distribution office in Chennai, and they told us that it can take up to two months before the STAR channels will be available in Europe again. The company was only testing STAR Vijay, STAR Plus, STAR Gold and Channel [V] on Eurobird 9A, and they are planning to launch these channels permanently in Europe within two months, and the channels are more likely to return on Eurobird 9A (9 degree East) they said. They also mentioned that they were going to encrypt the channels when they return. 

STAR Plus, STAR Gold, STAR Vijay Intl. and Channel [V] India have left Eurobird 9A (9 degree East): 11804, Vertical, SR 27500 and fec 3/4, again. These channels suddenly emerged on this satellite position on 29/10-2010, and has been telecasting free-to-air until now. 

The channels were all labeled "SA" in the end of their names - indicating that the feed of the channels were regarded South Africa. The channels also later informed the viewers that from January 1st they were all going to be encrypted as a part of Top TV package in South Africa.

But the feed of the channels on Eurobird 9A were never encrypted, and when we talked with STAR UK office last year, they told Media Asia that they had no plans of launching STAR Vijay or Channel [V] in Europe. Already STAR Plus, STAR Gold, STAR News and STAR One are available in UK on BSkyB platform on Astra (28.2 degree East) as encrypted channels. 

So it was expected that the STAR channels on Eurobird 9A would disappear one day. On STAR Vijay's website they have also not mentioned Europe in their list of places where their channel is distributed. So it seems to be the end of freeview of STAR channels in Europe for this time. 

We will keep you updated if we get any news on this matter from STAR Network in India.

- MEDIA ASIA