{{short description|Tamil-language television channel}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox television channel | name = Star Vijay | logo = Star Vijay logo 2023.png | logo_caption = Logo used since 2017 | owner = JioStar | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1994|11|24|df=yes}} | former_names = {{Unbulleted_list|Golden Eagle Communication (GEC)<br/>(until 1995)|Vijay TV<br/>(1995–2001, 2021–present, international feed only)|Star Vijay<br/>(2001–present, India)}} | network = JioStar | picture_format = 1080i HDTV<br />(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed) | type = Television channel | country = India | language = Tamil | headquarters = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | area = Worldwide | key_people = {{Unbulleted_list|Krishnan Kutty<br/>(EVP & Channel Head)|Balachandran Rathinavel<br/>(Business Head)|Pradeep Milroy Peter<br/>(Programming Head)}} | sister_channels = Colors Tamil <br/> Star Vijay Super <br/>Star Vijay Takkar | website = {{URL|https://www.hotstar.com/1260000018|Star Vijay on Disney+ Hotstar}} | online_serv_1 = JioHotstar | online_chan_1 = India }}
'''Star Vijay''' is an Indian Tamil language general entertainment pay television channel owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India. The channel telecasts programmes such as serials, reality shows & Tamil films.
== History == The channel was first launched by N. P. V. Ramasamy Udayar on 24 November 1994, as Golden Eagle Communication (GEC).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/from-booze-to-news/200528 |title=From Booze To News |website=Outlook India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/news_analysis/newsletter/091198/utv91198.htm |title=Why UTV bought Vijay TV |publisher=Indian Television}}</ref> That same year it applied for the line-up of Singapore Cable Vision becoming the first Tamil channel on offer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cable Vision signs on Indian TV channel |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19950608-1.2.66.3.1 |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Straits Times |date=8 June 1995}}</ref> United Breweries Group acquired the channel in 1995 and renamed it as Vijay TV.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19960215-new-satellite-channels-exploit-public-fixation-in-tamil-nadu-833025-1996-02-15 |title=New satellite channels exploit public fixation in Tamil Nadu |author=G. C. SHEKHAR |date=15 February 1996 |magazine=India Today}}</ref> The UTV Group bought the controlling interest from United Breweries Group in 1999 for {{currency|180|INR}} million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k1/aug/aug15.htm |title=Star, UTV to sign a deal on Vijay TV handover Wednesday? |publisher=Indian Television}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/news_analysis/newsletter/080399/vijay8399.htm |title=Vijay TV relaunch date fixed |publisher=Indian Television}}</ref> In 2001, Star India took over the channel and rebranded it as ''Star Vijay.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/brand-equity/entertainment/star-india-buys-out-utvs-stake-in-vijay-tv/articleshow/808761.cms |title=Star India buys out UTV's stake in Vijay TV |website=The Economic Times}}</ref> Star acquired 51 percent stake in Vijay TV with UTV holding the remaining 49 percent.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/international-news/star-restructuring-vijay-tv-4001.html |title=Star restructuring Vijay TV – Exchange4media |website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media}}</ref> In 2004, UTV Software Communications offloaded its entire 44 percent stake in Vijay TV to Star India for ₹31 crores.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://m.rediff.com/money/2004/aug/10utv.htm |title=UTV sells Vijay TV pie to Star |website=Rediff}}</ref>
This channel, along with Star One, was launched in Hong Kong in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/OUapfYfna62flzfIRq2MfM/STAR-launches-Star-One-and-Vijay-in-Hong-Kong.html |title=STAR launches Star One and Vijay in Hong Kong |website=Live Mint |date=16 March 2007}}</ref>
The high-definition feed, Star Vijay HD, was launched on 29 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/Star-Vijay-launches-Vijay-HD/articleshow/52601105.cms |title=Star Vijay launches Vijay HD |date=5 June 2016 |work=The Times of India |access-date=26 July 2016}}</ref>
On 25 August 2016, its sibling channel Star Vijay Super was launched, which airs non-stop films and legacy television shows and later got revamped into a full movie channel with a tagline "Dhool Cinema Dhinam Dhinam".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.televisionpost.com/vijay-super-to-be-revamped-as-tamil-movie-channel/ |title=Vijay Super to be revamped as Tamil movie channel |website=Television Post}}</ref>
On 4 October 2020, it launched a music channel named Star Vijay Music,which was later rebranded as Star Vijay Takkar on October 9, 2022<ref name=":1" />.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2020 |title=Broadcasters see value in new channel launches despite covid |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/broadcasters-see-value-in-new-channel-launches-despite-covid-11603437761819.html |website=Live Mint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 premiere: Kamal Haasan adds some color to grim 2020 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/reality-tv/story/-bigg-boss-tamil-season-4-premiere-kamal-haasan-adds-some-color-to-grim-2020-1728312-2020-10-04 |website=India Today}}</ref>
== Programming == {{Main|List of programs broadcast by Star Vijay}}
== Sister Channels == === Colors Tamil === Colors Tamil is an Indian Tamil language general entertainment pay television channel owned by JioStar, a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India on 19 February 2018. The channel's headquarters is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It primarily telecasts programs such as serials, reality shows and Tamil films.
=== Star Vijay Super === '''''Star Vijay Super''''' is an Indian Tamil language movie pay television channel owned by JioStar a Joint Venture between Viacom18 and Disney India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2019 |title=Vijay Television’s sister channel Vijay Super has been refreshed - Exchange4media |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/announcements-news/star-vijays-sister-channel-vijay-television-rebrands-as-vijay-super-95120.html |access-date=30 December 2024 |website=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media |language=en}}</ref>
=== Star Vijay Takkar === '''''Star Vijay Takkar''''' is an Indian Tamil youth oriented entertainment pay television channel owned by JioStar a Joint Venture between Viacom18 and Disney India that was launched on 9 October 2022 replacing former channel '''''Star Vijay Music'''''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Singh 0 |first=Bhavya |title=Disney Star to Rebrand Vijay Music to Vijay Takkar on this Date |url=https://telecomtalk.info/disney-star-to-rebrand-vijay-music-to/563276/ |access-date=30 December 2024 |website=telecomtalk.info/ |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Vijay TV International=== '''''Vijay TV''''' is an International Versions for Star Vijay, pay television channel owned by JioStar a Joint Venture between Viacom18 and Disney India that was launched on 2002, Previously as '''''Star Vijay International''''' for Outside of Indian Tamils diasporas in Middle East (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates), South Africa, Europe, United Kingdom, North America (USA and Canada), Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia, On 22 January 2021, The channel are rebranding and based by Utsav Network for Yellow Colours to Vijay TV.
== Reception == When Star India took over the channel from UTV Communications, the channel's revenue, shares and advertising rates increased.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vijay Tv Revenues Increase Post-Star Alliance |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/vijay-tv-revenues-increase-post-star-alliance-102072901066_1.html |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=29 July 2002}}</ref> A revamp in 2017 brought with it a new logo and launched ''Bigg Boss Tamil Season 1'', after which the audience share of the channel—which had been 10%-15%—increased by 10%, being the second most-watched Tamil television channel.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vijay TV gets a 'Bigg' viewership bump |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/vijay-tv-gets-a-bigg-viewership-bump/article19453508.ece |website=The Hindu |date=9 August 2017 |last1=Kandavel |first1=Sangeetha |last2=Vijayakumar |first2=Sanjay}}</ref>
In week 48 of 2020, Star Vijay became the most watched Tamil GEC in prime time while being the second most watched Tamil GEC overall after Sun TV.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 October 2020 |title=Hindi GEC viewership dips due as IPL 2020 begins |url=https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/media/hindi-gec-viewership-dips-due-as-ipl-2020-begins/78506444 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215104943/https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/media/hindi-gec-viewership-dips-due-as-ipl-2020-begins/78506444 |archive-date=15 December 2020 |access-date=15 December 2020 |website=The Economic Times}}</ref> In week 50, it garnered its highest viewership ratings of 7,14,002 AMAs (average minute audience (in hundreds)) being the fifth most watched Indian television channel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WEEK 50 – DATA: Saturday, 12th December 2020 To Friday, 18th December 2020 |url=https://www.barcindia.co.in/data-insights |url-status=live |website=Broadcast Audience Research Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231053446/https://www.barcindia.co.in/data-insights |archive-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.hotstar.com/channels/star-vijay}}
{{STAR}} {{Tamil language television channels}}
Category:Tamil-language television channels Category:Television channels and stations established in 1994 Category:Television stations in Chennai Category:Disney Star