CStar is French music television network owned by Groupe Canal+. The channel broadcasts music videos, magazines, documentaries, concerts, series, TV movies, movies or Japanese anime.
History[]
This channel is created by the Lagardère Active subsidiary MCM for TNT on the model of its existing MCM music channel on cable and Canalsat. It is initially presented under the name MCM on June 20th, 2002 during the hearing of the Groupe MCM before the Conseil Supérieur de l'audiovisuel one to obtain a frequency on TNT. The project is then renamed to be presented under the name of Europe 2 TV during the second hearing before the CSA on December 14, 2004, to the great surprise of its representatives. This choice aims to capitalize on the renown of Europe 2 music radio, better known to the general public than MCM. Although bearing the same name, its musical editorial line is totally different from its radio format. Nineteen years after the TV6 experience, the CSA made the choice of a free music channel and retained the Europe 2 TV project on July 19, 2005 for broadcasting on DTT.
Europe 2 TV begins broadcasting on TNT channel 17 on 17 October 2005 at 17:17. The channel targets an audience aged between 15 and 34 years old. Its specifications require it to devote 75% of its aIr to music programs (music videos, concerts, variety shows) 3 with a few documentaries. Reality TV is not long in making its appearance Next. Regular meetings are scheduled with thematic evenings: Live le Lundi, Déconne le Mardi, Sexy le Mercredi, Fille le Jeudi, SF le Vendredi, Manga le Samedi and Hit le Dimanche. Unpublished and older series are also on the air.
Ranked last channel of TNT in terms of audience and wishing to reach a wider audience to compete NRJ 12, Lagardère Active decides in the summer of 2007 to rename its brands Europe 2 in radio and television by the iconic brand of the publisher British musical Virgin with whom he is already associated in Virgin Megastore stores in France. On July 17, 2007, the CSA gives its agreement for the change of denomination of Europe 2 TV in Virgin 17. Europe 2 TV changes its name on January 1, 2008 at midnight by finishing its programs by the title Happy Ending of Mika which succeeds a video message from Richard Branson, boss of the Virgin Group, celebrating the birth of Virgin 17
Ranked the last channel of TNT in terms of audience (according to the figures published by the Institute Médiamétrie in April 2006, Europe 2 TV achieves, in the first quarter of 2006, a 1.2% audience share with individuals 4 years old and older initialized in TNT, sixth position of the new TNT channels), wishing to reach a wider audience and compete with NRJ 12, Lagardère Active decides in summer 2007 to rename its brands Europe 2 in radio and television by the emblematic brand of the British music publisher Virgin with which Lagardère is already associated in the Virgin Megastore stores in France. The partnership agreement provides that using the Virgin brand, the chain must pay 0.5 to 1% of its profits to Richard Branson. On July 17, 2007, the CSA gives its agreement for the change of denomination of Europe 2 TV in Virgin 17, but the authorization is attached to several conditions: the logo of the chain must not be confused with those of products or services that include in their name the Virgin brand and the prohibition of advertising for the Virgin Group and all references to Virgin products on the air. Nevertheless, the CSA authorizes the use of the Virgin international logo. Europe 2 TV changed its name on January 1, 2008 at midnight, ending with the title Happy Ending by Mika and debuting with a video message from Richard Branson, boss of the Virgin Group. Virgin 17 is broadcast in Belgium on January 4, 2010, replacing MCM Belgium, which disappeared on December 31, 2009 on VOO and Numericable.
On March 18, 2010, the Bolloré group, already the owner of Direct 8, announced that it had entered into exclusive negotiations with Lagardère Active for the purchase of Virgin 17. On June 10, 2010, the two groups signed a definitive agreement to sell the channel at a price of € 70 million, excluding the resumption of staff (20 people) and part of the programs. On July 12, 2010, the CSA gives its agreement for this repurchase. Yannick Bolloré, future general manager of the channel, says she will be called Direct Star and announces her intention to keep the musical format of the channel and even to "strengthen the place of music in the first and second part of the evening" in a "more urban and contemporary" universe. The Bolloré group appoints Christophe Sabot (former executive at NRJ and Virgin 17) as the channel's management and the Direct Star website is online as of August 16, 2010.
Virgin 17 stops broadcasting on August 30, 2010 around 23:59 with the best moments of the channel.
On June 10, 2010, the group Bolloré, already owner of Direct 8, bought the channel Virgin 17 to Lagardère Active for a sum that would amount to about 70 million €, except recovery of the staff (20 people) and a part of programs. On July 12, 2010, the CSA gives its agreement for this repurchase. Yannick Bolloré, future general manager of the channel, says she will be called Direct Star and announces her intention to keep the musical format of the channel and even to "strengthen the place of music in the first and second half of the evening" in a "more urban and contemporary" world. The Bolloré group appoints Christophe Sabot (former director at NRJ and Virgin 17) as director of the channel. On July 27, 2010, the group unveiled in a press release the new identity of Direct Star created by the Parisian agency Dream On, which is part of the graphic charter of the group's media activities. Its website has been online since 16 August 2010.
On September 1, 2010 at midnight, Direct Star took over from Virgin 17 and released its first clip, Alejandro Lady Gaga, full version. That same day, at 20:00, Direct Star officially replaces Virgin 17, with as a launch program, a giant clock in the shape of an alarm clock followed by a parody of an episode of the 30 Rock series.
After its thematic evening devoted to music with Star Story, the channel launched Thursday, December 2, Star Report, a new thematic evening, dedicated to the world of luxury.
On December 17, 2010, Direct Star is the first TNT channel to broadcast a live concert. This is -M- who was closing his tour Les Saisons de passage, in Paris-Bercy.
On December 26, 2010, Direct Star broadcast unpublished images of the last concerts and an exclusive interview with Jean-Michel Jarre. Numericable will broadcast in exclusivity the 3D show on Ma Chaîne 3D.
Wednesday, July 1, 2012, in a notice that the CSA published on the sale of the two chains of the Bolloré group, included the financial losses of these two chains. Over the 2005-2010 period, Direct Star lost 61 million euros. Since the channel did not belong to Bolloré, but to Lagardère before mid-2010, the group is not responsible for these losses. In 2010, out of a turnover of 23.7 million euros, the chain suffered an operating loss of 13.5 million euros and the growth of Direct Star's turnover was 56%
On September 5, 2011, the Groupe Canal+ announced its intention to acquire 60% of Bolloré Média (with a 100% option under three years), which would make it the new owner of Direct Star. This transaction must be validated by the Autorité de la concurrence to be finalized. On the occasion of the announcement of this acquisition, Bertrand Meheut announced in an interview given in Les Échos that the programming of the two channels will evolve "gradually in coherence with their current editorial line and with that of the channels of the Groupe Canal+. The transaction is officially signed between the two groups in December 2011.
In January 2012, Canal+ appointed Ara Aprikian to head the new free channel division of the Groupe Canal+. He is responsible for the transformation and integration of Direct Star in the style and editorial line of Canal+. It proposes on this occasion to the CSA a reduction, from 75% today to 50% in term, of the air time reserved for the musical programs on the channel, that is a reduction of ⅓ of the air time currently reserved for the music. In March 2012, Canal+ submitted to the Autorité de la concurrence its proposals on cinematographic, sports and advertising rights to authorize the acquisition.
On 23 July 2012, the Autorité de la concurrence accepted the takeover of Direct 8 and Direct Star, subject to conditions, by the Groupe Canal+. The CSA validates the transaction on September 18, 2012 and the effective purchase by Groupe Bolloré of its two former channels, Direct 8 and Direct Star, is finalized on September 27, 2012. At that date, the two channels are under the full operational control of Groupe Canal+ which decides to change the name of Direct Star in D17 on Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 20:45
An evening of presentation of the projects of new channels D8 and D17 takes place on Thursday, September 20, 2012 from the carousel of the Louvre in Paris and the effective purchase in the Bolloré group of its two former channels, Direct 8 and Direct Star, is finalized on September 27 2012. At this date, both channels are under full operational control of the Groupe Canal+.
The Groupe Canal+ decides to rename the channel D17. The change takes place on Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 20:45, after the broadcast of Dragon Ball Z.
On December 23, 2013, the Council of State canceled the authorization to buy Direct 8 and Direct Star by the Groupe Canal+ following the complaint of the TF1 and M6 groups. This decision, which is based on a formal defect and considering this redemption as "partially illegal" does not, however, cancel the transaction. Canal+ then has a period of six months to rectify these errors and represent its case before the CSA.
In June 2015, the channel goes into high definition.
In September 2015, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Groupe Canal+, Vincent Bolloré announced that the free channels D17, D8 and i-Télé will soon be renamed to respectively CStar, C8 and CNews to bring them closer to Canal+.
In April 2016, the Groupe Canal+ asked the CSA for this change of identity. Groupe Canal+ management confirms that this name change will be made on September 5, 2016.
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 Broadcast television networks in France
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| TF1 | France 2 | France 3 | Canal+ | France 5 | M6 | C8 | TMC | ||
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| Arte | W9 | TFX | NRJ 12 | LCP/Public Sénat | France 4 | BFM TV | CNews | CStar | Gulli | |||||||||
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| Culturebox | TF1 Séries Films | L'Équipe | 6ter | Numéro 23 | RMC Story | Chérie 25 | LCI | France Info | ||||||||
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