Star Television Network

The Star Television Network, Inc. (commonly branded as Starcast[1][2] initially, then STN,[3] prior to launch, then Star[4][5][6] from its launch up to the network's shutdown), was an attempt at a fifth broadcasting 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]

For the television broadcaster in Hong Kong previously known as Star TV Network, see Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific. For other uses, see Star TV.
Star Television Network, Inc.
Typebroadcasting network
BrandingPrior to launch:
Starcast[1][2]
(October 15, 1987-April 18, 1988)
STN[3]
(April 18, 1988-August 25, 1989)
At launch:
Star[4][5][6]
(August 25, 1989-January 17, 1991)
Country
US
Founded1987 (1987)
by
  • Harry Handley
  • Walter Windsor
  • John Tyler
[7]
SloganTV Heaven[8]
HeadquartersOrlando, Florida
Owner
  • Harry Handley
  • Walter Windsor
  • Cathy Bamberg
  • Satellite Music Network Inc.
  • Dale W. Lang
[9][10]
Key people
Dale W. Lang (chair)[8]
Ron Eikens (CEO)[11]
Launch date
September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29)
DissolvedJanuary 14, 1991 (1991-01-14)[11]
Affiliateslist

Star Television Network featured classic, though cheaper and lesser-known, 1950s and 1960s programming,[9] movies and game shows under the TV Heaven slogan, with direct response infomercials rounding out the schedule.[8] The network expected to buy newer programs and originate their own programming once on a firm operating status.[10]

Star Television Network 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.[7]

History

The network was introduced under the Starcast[1][2] branding in October 1987 as needing $15 million to launch and had just started contacting potential affiliates. The network expected to sign up 30 stations by the April 1989 launch date and have 18 hours of broadcasting a day.[9] After the Black Monday stock market crash in October 1987, Starcast's investors pulled out.[10] By January 1988, the company had 70 stations willing to sign on to the network.[13]

By April 1989 (the projected launch date), the network, now under the STN[3] branding (having changed from Starcast), pushed back their launch to July due to programming negotiations and financing hold ups. 64 stations had provisionally signed on as affiliates in markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Jacksonville, Florida and Orlando to an estimated reach of 40 million households. The network was then in talks with an additional 33 stations. At this time, an affiliation fee ranging from $2,750 to $60,000 annually would be paid by the stations based on their market size instead of the standard network payments to affiliates. 36 minutes a day would be allocated for advertising sold by the network, with the remainder given to its affiliates.[7] STN missed the July launch due to lack of additional funding and set a new September 1 deadline for enough affiliates to sign on for a possible November 1 launch. The network expected to be based at the then-new Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. At this time, the network restructured its affiliate agreement in dropping the annual carriage fee for the addition of some infomercials and a refundable deposit of $1,500 to $175,000 based on the station's size. The number of affiliates at launch and infomercials was a requirement to bring on replacement investor Dale W. Lang, owner of Lang Communications, which then owned several magazines including Success and Working Woman magazine. The infomercials would bring a steady source of income for the network and were mostly to be provided by Quantum Marketing International.[10]

Missing the September 1, 1989 affiliate total deadline, the network, under the Star[4][5][6] branding (its second & final name change), pushed back its launch to September 1990. As of August 12, 1990, there were 21 signed stations reaching 13.7 million households. Also, Star moved operations to a rented studio in Winter Park, Florida.[14] Additionally, broadcasting hours were reduced to 8 hours a day, plus 4 hours of infomercials. The network expected to have revenue reach $100 million in its second year of operations.[8] By July 1990, Star had been granted a federal permit for a station in Austin, Minnesota.[12]

Star launched on September 29, 1990[12] with 10 affiliates reaching 9 million homes, as the additional stations were not ready or failed to receive FCC approval. With fewer stations, the network sold less through the infomercials, thus not meeting company goals. The infomercial companies were having their own problems, and thus unable to produce newer shows. Lang could not add more funding into the company due to difficulties at Lang Communications. Lang and the company sought out other investors, to no avail.[11]

The Star Television Network ceased operations on Monday, January 14, 1991 at 4:00 a.m. EST. All 25 staffers working for the network were laid off.[11]

Programming

Star Television Network's schedule was of four hours of infomercials and eight hours of classic shows under the TV Heaven slogan.[12] Some of the programs known to have aired on Star included:[11][15]

Honey West, Judge Roy Bean, Mr. and Mrs. North, and Richard Diamond, Private Detective were also announced as part of Star Television Network's line-up in August 1988,[10] though it was unknown if these series had aired.

Infomercials are listed in schedules under various names, such as Star Showcase, Star Opportunities, Star Collections, Star Sensations, Star Innovations, Market Place, Morning Star and Direct to You.[15]

As with other networks, affiliates fill the rest of the time with their own local and syndicated programming, as well as sports, which would preempt Star Television Network programming.

Known affiliates

The following stations signed up as affiliates of the network, but did not commence broadcasting until after the network's closure in January 1991:

One announced affiliate never broadcast:

  • KCVF channel 40, Portland, Oregon[20][23]

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Press, The Associated (13 July 1990). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; TV Network Is Planned". The New York Times. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Strother, Susan G. (April 18, 1988). "Oldies Broadcasts Set To Begin In July Financing And Program Negotiations Stalled Start". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  8. "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; TV Network Is Planned". New York Times. AP. July 13, 1990. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  9. 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.
  10. Strother, Susan G. (August 25, 1989). "Network Plan Near Deadline". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  11. Strother, Susan G. (January 17, 1991). "Tv Network Signs Off - Out Of Cash". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  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. Strother, Susan G. (January 25, 1988). "Star Television Network..." Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  14. Strother, Susan G. (July 12, 1990). "Tv Network Plans September Debut". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  15. "TV Journal supplement (listings for WAYQ channel 26, 9/30/1990 to 10/6/1990)". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. September 30, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  16. Strother, Susan G. (August 11, 1990). "Independent Tv Stations Struggle To Work Out Financial Problems". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  17. "I Saw Stars While Cleaning My Closet (ad)". TV Guide (Toledo-Lima Edition). October 27, 1990. Retrieved November 22, 2015 – via vintagetoledotv.squarespace.com.
  18. WPAN "TV Heaven" ad, Pensacola News-Journal, September 29, 1990
  19. Kiesewetter, John (September 28, 1990). "For heaven's sake oldies get a new life". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  20. Wollenberg, Skip (July 12, 1990). "Publisher plans new TV network". The Journal News. Associated Press. p. E7. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  21. FCC Memorandum Opinion and Order: In re: DeSoto Broadcasting, Inc., Venice, Florida, For Modification of Station WBSV-TV's ADI, April 27, 1995.
  22. Sinclair Broadcast Group press release: "Sinclair to Program WTTA in Tampa", October 29, 1998.
  23. "Independent station KSKN to be Star network affiliate". Spokesman-Review. July 12, 1988. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  24. "Call Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. April 30, 1990. p. 73. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
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