Singapore, 25 June 2018 – StarHub TV customers can look forward to a slate of fresh and exciting content with seven brand new channels coming their way. The channels–CuriosityStream HD, Travelxp HD, Gusto TV HD, Makeful HD, GEM HD, FIGHT SPORTS HD and COLORS Tamil HD–will be launched progressively in the coming months, commencing from 3 July.
“We are continuously reviewing our channel line-up to ensure that our customers continue to get quality content at good value. The team has worked diligently to refresh our content offering with a strong mix of education, lifestyle, entertainment, sports and Asian content, to delight our customers. This includes the award-winning education channel CuriosityStream HD by the founder of Discovery Channel, John Hendricks; Travelxp HD, the largest single producer of travel content in the world; Gusto TV HD, a top destination for food-related programmes; as well as Makeful HD, a popular Canadian lifestyle channel. The channels were handpicked as they are enjoying growing viewership and popularity in overseas markets and we are confident that they can repeat this success with our customers. As this marks the debut of some of these channels in Asia, we are thrilled that StarHub TV customers will be the first in the region to experience and enjoy their unique content,” said Ms Lee Soo Hui, Head of Content Business Unit, StarHub.
Also joining in the new content line-up is GEM HD, the glittering jewel of Japanese entertainment; FIGHT SPORTS HD, the go-to destination for coverage of all the latest combat sports; and COLORS Tamil HD, StarHub’s first Tamil channel in HD offering 24/7 non-stop entertainment.
To give StarHub TV customers the benefit to sample the new channel offerings without worry of charges, StarHub will open up the new channels for four weeks from the date of launch. All seven channels will be available at no additional cost to customers of the respective packs.
Apart from the launch of FIGHT SPORTS HD, StarHub is committed to acquiring more sports content for our inhouse Hub Sports channels to enhance our sports line-up. This month, rugby fans can catch rugby league properties such as the State of Origin series and the National Rugby League live on Hub Sports 2 (HD). In the months of September and October this year, cycling enthusiasts will also have reason to cheer as the UCI Europe Tour rolls into town. Races to be shown on the Hub Sports channels include the Brussels Cycling Classic, Milano-Torino and Gran Piemonte. To top it off, the prestigious Tour of Lombardy, the last of the five “Monuments” of the UCI World Tour will also be available.
As part of this ongoing process to revamp our content line-up, the suite of channels from Discovery Networks will be discontinued in two phases, on 30 June 2018 and 31 August 2018.
“We always work towards meeting our customers’ entertainment needs and minimising any inconvenience to them. Hence, we are disappointed that we were not able to reach an agreement with Discovery. Our firm belief is that quality content should come at a sensible price, without our customers having to bear unsustainable increase in costs. We would like to thank our customers for their patience over the past few weeks. The team has worked tirelessly to secure seven brand new channels in a short span of time and we sincerely hope that our customers will give these new channels a chance and discover their unique appeal. All seven new channels will be added to their respective subscription Groups at no additional cost to our customers. We are not stopping here and will share news of more new channels in the pipeline. StarHub also has an existing line-up of strong and comprehensive education and lifestyle channels like BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, FYI, Love Nature, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and Smithsonian Channel for our customers to enjoy. By the end of this week, we will be progressively sending letters to customers subscribed to the Education and/or Lifestyle Basic Groups to update them with more information on the new channels, as well as offer bill rebates to thank them for their continuous support,” Ms Lee added.
While the channels are being prepared for launch, all StarHub TV customers can also enjoy a free preview of over 30 channels from the News, Kids, Education, Entertainment and Lifestyle Basic Groups, from now to 15 July 2018.
CuriosityStream HD
CuriosityStream HD boasts an expansive collection of award-winning original documentary features and series spanning science, space, technology, history, nature, health, civilisation and more. Created by the founder of Discovery Channel, media visionary John Hendricks, CuriosityStream’s immersive titles feature world-renowned experts like Stephen Hawking and David Attenborough, stunning visuals and unrivalled storytelling which entertains and inspires, igniting the curiosity in viewers of all ages. StarHub TV is also the first in the world to offer CuriosityStream as a linear channel.
Key highlights at launch: The Emmy Award-winning Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places, Miniverse with Commander Chris Hadfield, and DIGITS with Dr. Derek Muller
Travelxp HD
With 100 percent original and exclusive content, Travelxp HD is the world’s leading travel channel dedicated to serving avid travellers across the globe. The channel will take intrepid travellers on an adventure to unchartered destinations while foodies can embark on a gastronomic journey in search of exquisite and unique dishes around the world. With its expansive catalogue of content, there is bound to be something for every type of traveller.
Key highlights at launch: Backpack, Off the Grid, Xplore Austria, Thali – The Great Indian Meal, Kissed by the Sea, Quest, and Bliss.
Gusto TV HD
Gusto TV is the world's most innovative linear food and lifestyle television channel. From in-studio cooking series featuring creative recipes and dynamic hosts to fascinating documentary and reality series about food culture and sustainability, Gusto TV delivers a diverse mix of engaging and inspiring cooking and lifestyle programming that resonates globally. With hundreds of hours of visually stunning original content, Gusto TV's internationally acclaimed series include ONE WORLD KITCHEN, THE LATIN KITCHEN, and CRATE TO PLATE. This is the first time Gusto TV will be available to viewers outside of Canada.
Key highlights at launch: Fish the Dish, Flour Power, and One World Kitchen.
Makeful HD
Makeful HD is a lifestyle specialty channel by Blue Ant Media, celebrating the creativity that exists in every individual and in the world around us. Makeful’s programming combines celebrity-led home improvement programs, and Makeful Originals featuring design, décor, style, crafts, and DIY ideas to inspire audiences to bring imagination into every aspect of their lives.
Key highlights at launch: Brojects series, Paul Lafrance series, and Makeful original series. A full programming line-up will be announced closer to launch.
GEM HD
GEM HD is the one-stop channel for all Japanese related programmes, ranging from dramas, variety shows to anime. It is also the only channel to catch express Japanese titles from Nippon TV. Japanese drama fans can look forward to the simulcast of prime-time dramas; and catch popular titles within a week of broadcast from Japan. On 7 July 2018, party on with the live broadcast of highly anticipated music festival The Music Day hosted by Arashi’s Sakurai Sho, featuring a stellar line-up of Japan’s top artistes. In addition, GEM takes its shows beyond the screen and into the lives of viewers with J-artiste meet-and-greet events across Asia.
Key highlights at launch: ZERO – The Bravest Money Game, SURVIVAL WEDDING, The Quest Season 9, and TOKUSON: Life Hacks!
FIGHT SPORTS HD
One of the fastest growing sports networks worldwide, FIGHT SPORTS HD is the 24/7 destination which covers all the latest combat sports around the world including MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing and many disciplines of Martial Arts. Besides their ongoing production of original series, some of the key live properties on the channel include HBO World Championship Boxing, the leader in Championship Boxing for over 40 years; World Class Championship Boxing which features World Title Fights from the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO; and K-1 Kickboxing, the world’s premiere kickboxing organisation, featuring tournaments in all weight classes.
Key highlights at launch: WCK Live - Buakaw Banchamek vs. Michael Krcmar, and BWF US Open World Martial Arts Championship.
COLORS Tamil HD
Fresh from its successful February launch in India, COLORS Tamil HD is StarHub’s first fully High Definition Tamil channel. It is a 24-hour Tamil entertainment channel, tailored to capture the distinctive colours of Tamil Nadu with its variety of fiction, non-fiction and reality shows.
Key highlights at launch: Chakravarthy Ashokar, Vandhaal Sridevi, and Velunachi.
