Fox Life

Summary

Fox Life was an international pay television network, launched by the Fox Networks Group in 2004. The network has been discontinued in several markets over time due to the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019.

Fox Life
CountryUnited States
Headquarters1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York
Programming
Language(s)English, Spanish
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
(downscaled to 16:9 576i or 480i for SD feeds, dependent on market's SD standard)
Ownership
OwnerInternational: Fox Networks Group
(Disney International Operations)
United States: Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution
Sister channels
History
Launched
List
    • 13 May 2004; 19 years ago (2004-05-13) (first broadcast in Italy)
    • 1 July 2005; 18 years ago (2005-07-01) (Latin America)
    • 4 November 2013; 10 years ago (2013-11-04) (United States)
    • 1 October 2017; 6 years ago (2017-10-01) (Southeast Asia & Hong Kong)
    • 28 September 2017; 6 years ago (2017-09-28) (Middle East)
Closed
List
    • 31 December 2009; 14 years ago (2009-12-31) (France)
    • 30 September 2011; 12 years ago (2011-09-30) (Japan)
    • 16 January 2015; 9 years ago (2015-01-16) (Poland)
    • 22 September 2015; 8 years ago (2015-09-22) (Flanders)
    • 31 December 2016; 7 years ago (2016-12-31) (Netherlands)
    • 1 July 2020; 3 years ago (2020-07-01) (Italy)
    • 30 September 2020; 3 years ago (2020-09-30) (Africa)[1]
    • 1 January 2021; 3 years ago (2021-01-01) (South Korea and Turkey)
    • 22 February 2021; 3 years ago (2021-02-22) (Latin America as Fox Life)
    • 16 March 2021; 3 years ago (2021-03-16) (SD Feed, Malaysia)
    • 1 September 2021; 2 years ago (2021-09-01) (Now TV feed, Hong Kong)
    • 1 October 2021; 2 years ago (2021-10-01) (Southeast Asia and Hong Kong)[2]
    • 31 December 2021; 2 years ago (2021-12-31) (Spain)[3]
    • 31 March 2022; 23 months ago (2022-03-31) (United States) (Latin America as Star Life)
    • 1 October 2022; 17 months ago (2022-10-01) (Russia & Belarus)
    • 15 March 2023; 12 months ago (2023-03-15) (Greece)
    • 1 October 2023; 5 months ago (2023-10-01) (Bulgaria & Balkans)[4][5]
    • 24 January 2024; 52 days ago (2024-01-24) (Baltics and CIS)[6]
    • 7 February 2024; 38 days ago (2024-02-07) (Portugal)[7]
    • 1 March 2024; 15 days ago (2024-03-01) (Middle East)[8]
    • 13 April 2024; 27 days' time (2024-04-13) (India)[9]
Replaced by
  • Fox (Flanders)
  • Nat Geo Wild (Japan)
  • Fox Comedy (Poland)
  • Star Life (Latin America, Bulgaria, Balkans, Portugal, Middle East and India)
  • CH. ever (South Korea)
  • FX Life (Greece, Baltics and CIS)
  • Sapfir (Russia)
Former names

The network's scheduling varied with each version, ranging from traditional entertainment programming, including television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, original programming in certain regions, and instructional and aspirational reality television on some other variations; in North America for instance, the network carried mainly Spanish language dubbed versions of American reality shows and instructional programming.

History edit

Fox Life was first launched in Italy on May 13, 2004, in Portugal on May 19, 2005, and Bulgaria on September 8, 2005. For Latin America, it started in July 2006, when it was launched in Brazil. The channel also has versions in other countries around Europe. It launched in the Netherlands and Flanders on September 7, 2009.[10] Fox Life launched in the United States on November 4, 2013.[11]

Flemish version edit

As of 22 November 2011, Fox had to change the programming for Fox Life in Flanders due to television rights issues in Belgium. From then on, a separate Flemish version was airing in Belgium. It used to air the Dutch version. The provider of satellite television in the Netherlands, Canal Digitaal, had to replace Fox Life with the Finnish version as well because it shared the Fox Life feed with the Belgium provider of satellite television, TV Vlaanderen Digitaal.[12]

Launch in Southeast Asia edit

On October 1, 2017, the Hong Kong and Southeast Asian version of Star World was rebranded to Fox Life.[13][14][15]

Fox Life
 
CountryChina
Broadcast area
HeadquartersKowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong SAR, China
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
SDTV 576i (downscaled)
Ownership
OwnerFox Networks Group Asia Pacific (Disney International Operations)
History
LaunchedOctober 1, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-10-01)
ClosedOctober 1, 2021; 2 years ago (2021-10-01)

Rebranding/closing in Europe edit

From 22 September 2015, Fox Life has been replaced by 24Kitchen for satellite viewers in the Netherlands. The Finnish Fox Life was rebranded as Fox.[16]

Fox Networks Group Benelux announced that Fox Life would officially close in the Netherlands on December 31, 2016.[17]

Rebranding/closing in Latin America edit

On 27 November 2020, Fox announced that they would be renaming the Fox branded channels in Latin America to Star Life on 22 February 2021.[18] The networks closed on 31 March 2022, along with the American version.[19]

Closing in Southeast Asia edit

After 11 years in operations, the channel alongside other FOX/STAR channels are all shutting down on Hong Kong's Now TV on September 1, 2021,[20] before announcing to closing down across Southeast Asia one month later in preparation of Disney+ (or Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand) rollouts across Southeast Asia.[21]

Closing in the United States edit

Notice of the discontinuation of the American iteration of Fox Life was sent to cable providers by Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution in late December 2021; the channel would be discontinued on March 31, 2022.[22]

Fox Life around the world edit

Channel Country or region Formerly Launch year Replacement / Rebrand Shutdown year
Fox Life (Italy) Italy May 13, 2004 discontinued July 1, 2020
Fox Life (Portugal) Portugal May 19, 2005 Star Life February 7, 2024
Fox Life (Latin America) Latin America July 1, 2005 February 22, 2021 (as Fox Life)
March 31, 2022 (as Star Life)
Fox Life (Bulgaria) Bulgaria September 8, 2005 October 1, 2023
Fox Life (France) France October 5, 2005 discontinued December 31, 2009[23]
Fox Life (Japan) Japan December 14, 2005 Nat Geo Wild September 30, 2011[24]
Fox Life (Turkey) Turkey November 13, 2006 discontinued January 1, 2021[25]
Fox Life (Poland) Poland January 1, 2007[26] Fox Comedy January 16, 2015[27]
Fox Life (Balkans) Balkans November 9, 2007[28] Star Life October 1, 2023[5]
Fox Life (Korea) South Korea March 2008 Ch.ever December 31, 2020
Fox Life (Russia) Baltics and CIS April 14, 2008 (Russia, Baltics and CIS)[29] Sapfir (Russia)[30] October 1, 2022 (Russia and Belarus)
November 5, 2008 (Estonia)[31] FX Life (Baltics and CIS) January 24, 2024 (Baltics and CIS)[6]
Fox Life (Greece) Greece December 1, 2008 FX Life March 15, 2023
Fox Life (Netherlands and Flanders) Netherlands and Flanders September 7, 2009[32] Fox (Flanders) September 22, 2015 (Flanders)
24Kitchen (Netherlands) December 31, 2016 (Netherlands)
Fox Life (United States) United States November 4, 2013 discontinued March 31, 2022
Fox Life (India) India Fox Traveller June 15, 2014 Star Life April 13, 2024[33]
Fox Life (Spain) Spain Fox Crime[34] October 1, 2014[35] discontinued December 31, 2021
Fox Life (Africa) Africa October 3, 2016[36][37] September 30, 2020
Fox Life (Middle East) Middle East September 28, 2017 Star Life March 1, 2024
Fox Life (Southeast Asia and Hong Kong) Southeast Asia and Hong Kong Star World October 1, 2017 discontinued October 1, 2021

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Going dark on DStv: Disney's FOX Life and Disney XD the next TV channels leaving MultiChoice's pay-TV service at the end of September 2020". TV with Thinus. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  2. ^ Multiple sources:
    • Frater, Patrick (27 April 2021). "Disney Slashes Linear TV in Asia With 18-Channel Closure, Shifts Focus to Disney Plus". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
    • Kanter, Jake (27 April 2021). "Disney Closes 18 Asia TV Channels As It Shifts Focus To Disney+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
    • Lai, Adrian (29 April 2021). "Disney To Shut Down 18 Channels In Southeast Asia". IGN. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  3. ^ Layton, Mark (5 January 2022). "Disney closes Spanish pay-tv channels Fox Life & Viajar". TBI Vision. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  4. ^ "FOX СТАВА STAR CHANNEL В БЪЛГАРИЯ ОТ ОКТОМВРИ" [FOX becomes STAR channel from October]. Boulevard Bulgaria (in Bulgarian). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Fox postaje STAR Channel" [Fox becomes STAR Channel]. FoNet portal (in Serbian). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023. Tako FOX Life postaje STAR Life
  6. ^ a b "Pange tähele! Telekanalid FOX ja FOX LIFE saavad uued nimed". Kroonika (in Ewe). 21 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Perguntas Frequentes - A FOX vai ser STAR Channel". foxtv.pt (in Portuguese). 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  8. ^ Reporter, Staff (2 February 2024). "Fox branded channels to undergo rebranding in MENA region". BroadcastPro ME. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Name change of channels "Fox Life" to "Star Life" AND "Fox Life HD" to "Star Life HD"" (PDF). www.disneystar.com. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  10. ^ "[Kabel] Fox Life Nederland start op 7 september". Sat4all – Alles over Satelliet TV, Ziggo en Telenet! (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Fox to launch Fox Life, a new channel for U.S Hispanics". Fox News Latino. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  12. ^ Jarco Kriek (12 November 2011). "CanalDigitaal-abonnees moeten The Simpsons op FOXlife missen" (in Dutch). Totaal TV. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Turn on as Star World rebrands to FOX life - InqPOP!". InqPOP!. 2 October 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Star World X FOX Life: The 'Makeover' Begins!". YouTube. 28 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  15. ^ "NGC to launch 4 new channels; seeks licences for 4 Fox channels in India". Exchange4media.com. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  16. ^ Jarco Kriek (21 September 2015). "24Kitchen vervangt Foxlife Bij CanalDigitaal" (in Dutch). Totaal TV. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  17. ^ Jarco Kriek (2 November 2016). "FOXlife stopt" (in Dutch). Totaal TV. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Disney Renaming Fox Channels In Latin America To Star". 27 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  19. ^ Cardozo, Alberto (10 January 2022). "Disney XD, Nat Geo Kids, Star Life, Nat Geo Wild y FXM cesarán, transmisiones en Latinoamérica en marzo". ANMTVLA (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  20. ^ King, Tom (27 April 2021). "Disney pulling plug on Asian sports channels in DTC pivot". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  21. ^ Middleton, Richard (28 April 2021). "Disney to close 18 channels in Asia as streaming focus expands". Digital TV Europe. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Fox Life - Ceasing distribution effective March 31, 2022". National Cable Television Cooperative (U.S.). Disney Media & Distribution. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Fox Life : La chaîne tire sa révérence le 31 décembre 2009". Premiere.fr (in French). 16 September 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  24. ^ "FOXライフをご視聴のみなさまへ". FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  25. ^ "FOX Crime Türkiye Yayını Sona Erdi – Kayıp Rıhtım". kayiprihtim.com (in Turkish). 2 October 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Fox Life do Cyfrowego Polsatu". SATKurier.pl. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  27. ^ "FOX Life w styczniu zmieni się w FOX Comedy". www.wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  28. ^ "Queer As Folk - uskoro na FOXLife!". Gay-Serbia.com | Diskusije (in Serbian). Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  29. ^ "Журнал Теле-Спутник". old.telesputnik.ru. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Изменение вещания каналов на платформе НтВ Плюс". tricolorhd.msk.ru. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Starman toob vaatajateni eestikeelse FOX Life'i". Mobiilsus (in Estonian). 5 November 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  32. ^ "nieuwe tv-zender: Fox Life". NRC (in Dutch). 7 September 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Name change of channels "Fox Life" to "Star Life" AND "Fox Life HD" to "Star Life HD"" (PDF). www.disneystar.com. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  34. ^ "FOX Life comes to African TV screens this October". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Fox Life toma el relevo de Fox Crime". El País (in Spanish). 28 August 2014. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  36. ^ "FOX Life makes debut on StarTimes Nigeria". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  37. ^ "FOX Life | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

External links edit