Licensed in 1996, and launched in 1999, CHUM Limited’s Star speciality channel was a national entertainment service dedicated to the world of show business, and the hundreds of thousands of people who make it happen. Inspired by the success of their StarTV weekly television series, Star offered a program schedule heavy on the movie business, but reaching into many other showbiz areas, including television, the recording industry, fashion and lifestyles.
A CRTC hearing on an application by CTVglobemedia to acquire the assets of CHUM Limited was held on April 30th 2007. Among the CHUM assets acquired by CTVglobemedia in the final approved deal were seven television stations, some 33 radio stations, and 21 specialty channels, including Star!
On November 29th, 2010, CTVglobemedia replaced Star with its new E! Channel, having made a deal with Comcast in the US to access its material. The E! brand had previously been used by CanWest Global as the name of a loose network of five stations, including CHCH-TV Hamilton. When CH was purchased by Channel Zero in 2009, it reverted to the CHCH callsign and logo.
Ownership: Channel Zero Inc
Start Year: 1999