Star Television Network
| Type | Broadcast television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Affiliates | See § Known affiliates |
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Lang Communications (1989-1991) |
| Parent | Star Television Network, Inc. |
| Key people |
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| History | |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Launched | September 29, 1990 |
| Founder |
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| Closed | January 14, 1991 (3 months and 16 days) |
The Star Television Network (commonly branded as Starcast initially, then STN, prior to launch, then Star from its launch up to the network's shutdown), was an attempt, though unsuccessful, at a fifth television 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.
Star featured classic, though cheaper and lesser-known, 1950s and 1960s programming, movies and game shows under the TV Heaven slogan, with direct response infomercials rounding out the schedule. The network expected to buy newer programs and originate its own once it became fully-established.
Star was facing competition from the Home Shopping Network and Fox, which went after the bigger markets. 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.