Star India to shutdown NGC Tamil and NGC Telugu on 15th August, Star World Premiere HD shutdown on hold

Star India has unfrozen its plan to shut down its regional Infotainment channels National Geographic Tamil and National Geographic Telugu that were earlier supposed to shut down on 31st January 2020. The regional Infotainment channels are now headed towards shutdown cometh 15th August 2020 at 24:00 hours.

Star India in a letter to its distribution affiliates on 16th July intimated that the discontinuation of National Geographic Tamil and National Geographic Telugu which earlier vide Star’s letter dated March 26, 2020, was put on hold till further intimation has now been rescheduled to 15th August 24:00 hours. The channels launched on 20th June 2019 with an a-la-carte price of Rs 2 but never onboarded major distribution platforms.

The affiliate letter, a copy of which DreamDTH has access to courtesy of Rakesh Kumar further states that the shutdown of Star World Premiere HD which was initially scheduled on 31st January, 2020 remains deferred until further information.

DreamDTH had in January reported the shutdown of National Geographic Tamil, National Geographic Telugu, and Star World Premiere HD effective 31st January 2020. Tata Sky, a JV between Tata Sons and Star India in turn had run a discontinuation scroll on Star World Premiere HD effective 31st January 2020.

DreamDTH has reached out to Star India for a comment on the development. At the time of filing this story, the press query remained unanswered. We will update this space as and when the revert drops in.

Star India had also planned to launch Vijay Music, Star Movies Select, Star Gold 2 HD, and Star Sports 3 HD on 1st February, 2020 with Disney Channel HD launching on 1st March, 2020. Star India however only went ahead with the rebranding of Movies OK as Star Gold 2 on 1st February, 2020.

The launch and shutdowns of channels were however put on hold until further intimation in April due to the NTO 2.0 impasse which was followed with COVID-19 induced lockdown across the country.