Channel V


Channel is a Chinese and former Asian pay television musical network originally launched by Star TV Hong Kong. It was part of the unit of Disney International Operations, and was launched in September 1991 to replace the first incarnation of MTV's Asian operation before it was shut down on October 1, 2021.
The mainland Chinese version is owned by Star China Media, and is still operational. The Australian channels were owned by Foxtel before their closure.
Channel previously operated either a local feed or a relay of the international version in Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Thailand or localized versions in India, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Australia.

History

Early years

MTV Asia (15 September 1991 – 2 May 1994)

Channel was originally launched on 15 September 1991 as MTV Asia. It was a 24-hour music channel broadcast in English, Hindi and Chinese, focused on pop music.
On 2 May 1994, MTV Asia left the STAR TV Network as the contract with Viacom expired.

Channel V

On 27 May 1994, under the leadership of managing director Gary Davey, Channel was launched as a replacement of MTV Asia with VJs celebrating on air from various locations; the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Downtown Tokyo, the Himalayas etc. At the same time, Channel officially 'split' its beam, in effect, providing two separate services for different regional audiences within the AsiaSat 1's footprint. This enables the channel to provide appropriate programming and viewing time for its viewers from different regions in Asia.
On 5 June 1994, Channel has opened up its production facilities in Taipei, Taiwan.
On 4 July 1994, Sigaw Manila was launched on the Northern Beam.
On 1 August 1994, BPL Oye! was launched on the Southern Beam.
On 5 June 1994, Channel has opened up its production facilities in Mumbai, India.
On 27 April 1995, the STAR TV Network starts transmitting Channel on the Palapa B2R satellite to Indonesia and the Philippines.
On 30 April 1995, Channel has opened up its production facilities in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates producing Sony Yalla!, the first ever Arabic Top 10 Countdown in the Middle East was launched on the Southern Beam.
On 4 August 1996, a Channel V Thailand|Thai-localized feed of Channel was launched in Thailand, as carried on Thai cable and satellite providers. This apparently replaced Channel International in the country, but the pan-Asian feed would still be available in Thailand via both AsiaSat and Palapa satellites.
In 1997, Channel International was launched in the Middle East on the Middle Eastern digital satellite TV platform Orbit Communications Company as part of the STAR Select package.
On 15 July 1997, Channel International was launched in Japan on the Japanese digital satellite TV platform SKY PerfecTV!.
In 1999, the president of rival MTV Networks Asia conceded that Channel was a very close competitor in Taiwan and Thailand.
On 27 April 2021, Disney announced that Channel would be closing down on 1 October as part of its winddown of traditional cable/satellite networks across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong in favor of focusing on both Disney+ and Disney+ Hotstar. Thus the channel space initially created by the first incarnation of MTV Asia in 1991 subsequently ceased to exist on October 1, 2021. As a result, Channel remains on-air only in Mainland China.

Operating channel

Mainland China

Channel Mainland China is the Chinese branch of the Channel network. It started operating in Mainland China in 1994 as part of Channel Asia. Fox International Channels Asia Pacific sold certain Mandarin language entertainment television channels that target Mainland China, including Channel Mainland China, to China Media Capital. As a result, Channel Mainland China is a part of Star China Media as of 2014 along with Xing Kong. The channel is free-to-air on 3715 H on AsiaSat 7 however in areas with strong 5G reception it can be hard to receive stable reception. Channel switches between Simplified and Traditional Chinese with selected Channel International programs airing with Chinese subtitles.

Current VJs

Channel Asia was the flagship of the Channel network. It was founded after MTV Asia separated with the STAR TV Network after the expiration of its contract. It was produced and operated from Hong Kong from January 1994 until January 2002, after which operations and studios were shifted to Malaysia with some aspects still operating in Hong Kong. Since January 1, 2008, Channel International has moved back to its original studio in Hong Kong, which is also the same studio of Channel China and Taiwan.
Channel along with most of the other The Walt Disney Company channels across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong ceased broadcasting on October 1, 2021, with the final music video being "M to the B" by Millie B.

Former VJs

Channel India was the Indian branch of the Channel network. It was operated by Star India. It started operating in India in 1994 as part of Channel Asia. On 1 July 2012, the channel discontinued its musical programming and started focusing on original content through fiction dailies and studio formats that address teenage issues. On 30 June 2016, stopped airing original programming. On 1 August, it rebranded its graphical package. Later, it discontinued operations on 15 September 2018.
  • Philippines
Channel Philippines was the Filipino branch of the Channel network. It was a joint venture between Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific, Fox International Channels, Previous channel providers and partners like Ermita Electronics Corporation, CityNet, TV Xtreme Broadcasting Company and Northern Star Productions. It started operating in the Philippines in 1994 as part of Channel Asia. It discontinued operations on 13 July 2012.
  • Australia
Channel Australia was the Australian branch of the Channel network. It was first launched as Red in 1995 and was owned by Foxtel. It ceased broadcasting in Australia on 26 February 2016, as it merged with Hits, focusing only on music video programming and countdowns. V Hits was also formerly known as Club and Channel 2, and ceased broadcasting on 1 July 2020. Former VJs included Osher Günsberg, Jabba, James Mathison, Chloe Maxwell and Yumi Stynes.
  • Taiwan
Channel Taiwan was the Taiwanese branch of the Channel network. It started operating in Taiwan in 1994 as part of Channel Asia. On 1 September 2012 it was replaced by Fox Taiwan.
  • South Korea
Channel Korea was the Korean branch of the Channel network. It started operating in South Korea in 1994 as part of Channel Asia.
  • Japan
Channel Japan was the Japanese branch of the Channel network. It started operating in Japan in 1994 as part of Channel Asia. The channel was acquired by Space Shower in 2002, and was renamed to Video Music Channel in that year, thus ending Channel 's presence in Japan.
  • Thailand
Channel Thailand was the Thai branch of the Channel network. It is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific, GMM Media and TrueVisions. It started operating in Thailand in 1994 as part of Channel Asia.
Channel Thailand also officially ceased transmission on 1 October 2021.