Star+

Pre-launch

The "Star" brand originated as a Hong Kong-based satellite broadcaster, which operated under that name as an acronym of "Satellite Television Asian Region." It was founded by Hutchison Whampoa in 1990, and was acquired by News Corporation in 1993.^[6] After 2009, the Star brand was mainly restricted to the now separately owned Star China Media, as well as Star India, which operates primarily in India but also distributes Indian vernacular TV programming worldwide and the remaining Asia Pacific rebranded from Star to then Fox International Channels' regional unit.^[7] Star India (as well as all of the now Fox Networks Group's Asia Pacific operations^[a]) was then acquired by Walt Disney as part of its acquisition of 21st Century Fox on 20 March 2019.

During an earnings call on 5 August 2020, Disney CEO Bob Chapek announced that Disney planned to launch a new international, general entertainment service under the "Star" brand name in 2021.^{[citation needed]} The plan superseded a previously announced international expansion of the majority-controlled American streaming service, Hulu, which has only expanded outside the United States to Japan.^[8] Chapek argued that the Hulu brand is not well known outside of the US, while Star is a much more recognizable brand outside of the United States.^[9]

Dispute with Lionsgate

In April 2021, Disney faced a trademark dispute in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico with Lionsgate's Starz Entertainment over the use of the Star brand in Ibero-America.^[10] The Wrap reported that Disney had five days to respond to the Brazil lawsuit.^[11] As a result, on 13 May 2021, it would be announced that the launch of Star+ in Ibero-America would be delayed to 31 August.^[12][13]

While Disney eventually won the dispute, in July, they would lose an appeal in court in Brazil to the name dispute with Lionsgate.^[14] In August 2021, Disney and Starz reached a settlement over the brand name issue allowing Star+ to launch in Ibero-America on 31 August as scheduled. The lawsuit was dropped after the deal was reached.^[15][16]

In June 2022, Disney and Lionsgate announced a streaming bundle offer in select Ibero-American countries, consisting of Disney+, Star+ and Lionsgate's Starzplay service.^[17]

On 28 September 2022, Lionsgate announced that its Starzplay service would rename to Lionsgate+ worldwide on the next day, including Ibero-America but excluding United States and Canada (where it is still known as Starz in those regions), as well as Cuba which completely ended the name conflict with Disney's Star+ service.^[18][19][20]

Merger with Disney+

On 12 December 2023, The Walt Disney Company Latin America planned to close down Star+ platform, and then launch both the Star and ESPN hub onto Disney+ on 26 June 2024.^[21] The standalone Star+ app was originally planned to be discontinued on 30 June 2024; the date was later pushed to 24 July of that same year.^[5] The announcement was left unnoticed for current Star+ subscribers until they drop the short clip about it.^{[b][22][clarification needed]}

Original programming

In addition to acquired content, Star+ produced original, local content in almost all Ibero-American states to be exclusively released on the platform.^[26]

Sports rights