What Star TV does

Star TV AG is Switzerland's first national private television broadcaster, founded on October 31, 1995 by Paul Grau under the first national private broadcasting concession granted by the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM). Operating from its headquarters at Wagistrasse 4, Zürich-Schlieren, Star TV positions itself as the oldest continuously operating national private TV station in Switzerland and self-describes as the No. 1 entertainment broadcaster in the country. The company operates under the Star TV Mediengruppe umbrella, which comprises three corporate entities: Star TV AG (core broadcasting), Game TV AG (24-hour gaming and e-sports channel launched in 2007), and Reflection Film AG (film production).

The company's core product is a cross-media entertainment television channel distributed via Swisscom blue TV at channel 23 (in the RTL environment), supplemented by livestream on StarTV.ch, replay applications, the Zattoo streaming platform, and active social media channels on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Programming spans 15+ program modules including daily entertainment news (StarNews), travel documentaries (Reise nach...), lifestyle content, talk shows (Pfändler Talk, Flowcast, Schreiber Talkt, First Moments, SVENsationell), music programming (Lautstark, André Rieu: Welcome to My World), live jewelry auctions (Juwelo), spiritual content (Shiva Live TV), and Swiss cultural showcases (SwissMade). The technology foundation is traditional television broadcasting infrastructure extended with cross-media streaming capabilities and digital production assets, including a proprietary "Virtual Moderator Anna" deployed on Game TV in November 2020 as the first virtual TV moderator in Switzerland.

Star TV generates revenue through advertising-based monetization, offering cross-media advertising solutions (TV, web, social) reaching a self-reported 38 million contacts annually. Revenue streams include traditional advertising sales, structured sponsorships (Live & Event activation, Frequency Sponsoring, Corporate Storytelling with custom video production), and content partnership programming. Its customer base splits between Swiss entertainment viewers (primary segment) and advertisers/brand partners across the DACH region (Warner Bros, PatheFilms, Juwelo, Grand Casino Bern, Prix Walo, André Rieu, and others). The company is privately held by founder and chairman Paul Grau, with no disclosed external investors, public listing, or detailed headcount figures, and operates as a near-family business.

Name

Star TV

Legal name

Star TV AG

Website

https://startv.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Star TV AG is Switzerland's first national private television broadcaster, founded in 1995 by Paul Grau, operating a cross-media entertainment channel on Swisscom blue TV plus streaming, replay apps, and social platforms. It serves Swiss entertainment viewers and DACH-region advertisers with 38 million annual contacts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)

Keywords

• Private television broadcasting
• Entertainment media
• Advertising sales
• Digital content streaming
• Cross-media distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Schlieren

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Star TV generates primary revenue through advertising sales across its TV, web, and social media platforms. The channel offers cross-media advertising solutions with 38 million annual contacts.
2. Sponsorship & Media Partnerships: Three sponsorship approaches: Live & Event activation, Frequency Sponsoring (continuous TV presence), and Corporate Storytelling (business portraits). Includes organic product placements, logo integration, live interviews, and event hospitality.
3. Program Content: Broadcast of entertainment content including travel documentaries ('Reise nach...'), lifestyle programming, music shows, film coverage, and live event broadcasts that attract viewership for advertising monetization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Star TV AG operates Switzerland's first national private television broadcaster, offering 24-hour entertainment programming including news, lifestyle, film, music, travel documentaries, talk shows, and live event broadcasts. Content is distributed via Swisscom blue TV (channel 23), web livestream, replay apps, and social media channels, reaching 38 million contacts annually across TV, web, and social platforms.

Product overview

Star TV is a Swiss media group operating as a multi-channel, cross-media entertainment broadcaster. The portfolio consists of Star TV (core TV channel), Game TV (gaming sub-brand), and multiple program modules including news (StarNews), travel documentaries (Reise nach...), lifestyle content, talk shows (Pfändler Talk, Flowcast, Schreiber Talkt, Wäschle Wills Wissen), music programming (Lautstark, André Rieu), jewelry auctions (Juwelo), spiritual content (Shiva Live TV), fitness programming, and special events (Prix Walo Gala). Content is distributed across traditional TV broadcasting, web streaming, and social media platforms, reaching 38 million contacts annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Star TV (Main TV Channel) Switzerland's first national private TV broadcaster providing 24-hour entertainment programming including news, lifestyle, film, music, travel documentaries, talk shows, and live event broadcasts. Distributed via Swisscom blue TV (channel 23), web livestream, and social media, reaching 38 million contacts annually.
• Game TV A 24-hour channel for computer and video games, e-sports, community building, online gaming, and LAN parties. Available on Swisscom blue TV and major streaming platforms including Twitch and YouTube, featuring magazine-format shows, series, and films.
• Star TV Livestream Cross-media streaming service enabling viewers to watch Star TV content live online, available via the StarTV.ch website.
• Replay Apps Catch-up TV applications allowing viewers to watch previously aired Star TV content at their convenience across mobile and TV platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38 million contacts annually

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prix WalocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStar TV has partnered with Prix Walo for over 17 years to broadcast the annual Swiss entertainment awards gala. The partnership includes organic product placements, prominent logo integration, exclusive live interviews, and VIP hospitality at the event. Star TV broadcasts the Prix Walo Gala live from Kongresshaus Zürich.
• JuwelocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLive jewelry auction programming broadcast exclusively on Star TV in Switzerland. Juwelo offers jewelry and gemstone auctions with detailed insights into craftsmanship and jewelry meaning.
• Shiva Live TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpiritual and meditation content partnership providing daily programming including consultations, guided meditation exercises, and personal development workshops.
• Warner BrosminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm content partnership for distribution and broadcast of Warner Bros entertainment content on Star TV.
• PatheFilmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss film distributor partnership for cinema-related content and entertainment programming.
• AscotEliteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss film entertainment content partnership.
• ArenaCinemasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss cinema chain partnership.
• Grand Casino BernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCasino entertainment and hospitality partnership.
• ZattoominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStreaming platform partnership for Star TV content distribution to Zattoo subscribers in Switzerland.
• Swiss Influence AwardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Swiss influencer marketing award organization.
• André RieucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive Swiss partnership for the André Rieu 'Welcome to My World' documentary series. Star TV broadcasts the series every Friday at 21:00, and André Rieu performed twice in Switzerland in September 2026 (Hallenstadion Zürich, Vaudoise Aréna Geneva). This marks Star TV's expansion into concert programming.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• TeleZüri: Zurich-based private regional TV channel in the same Swiss private broadcasting landscape as Star TV; competes for local advertisers in the DACH region and occupies adjacent cable/IPTV slots.
• TeleBärn: Swiss German-language regional private broadcaster covering the Bern region; competes for regional advertising spend and audience attention within Star TV's primary Swiss German market.

Broad incumbents

• Warner Bros. Discovery: Global media company that is both a content partner and a competitive threat via its channels and HBO Max streaming service in Switzerland, targeting the same entertainment audience as Star TV.
• RTL Group: Major European broadcaster whose RTL channels appear in the same Swisscom blue TV environment as Star TV; competes for both viewers and pan-European advertising budgets reaching Swiss German audiences.
• SRG SSR: Switzerland's public broadcaster operating SRF and other channels; captures a large share of Swiss TV advertising and viewership with mandatory reach, setting the competitive ceiling for Star TV's entertainment positioning.
• Netflix Switzerland: Global streaming incumbent capturing Swiss viewers and advertising-relevant attention; structurally reduces linear TV viewership and competes for the same entertainment advertising budgets as Star TV.
• ProSiebenSat.1 Media: Germany-headquartered broadcaster with strong DACH market presence; competes with Star TV for advertiser attention and audience share across German-speaking Switzerland and the wider DACH region.

Others

• Zattoo: Swiss OTT streaming platform that is a distribution partner for Star TV and a competitive channel for viewer attention; both companies sell into the same Swiss TV-adjacent advertising market.

Direct peers

• 3+ (Three Plus): Switzerland's other major national private TV channel, operating entertainment programming in the same Swiss German-speaking market and competing directly with Star TV for advertisers and viewers on Swisscom blue TV.
• TV24 (CH Media): Swiss private general-interest broadcaster owned by CH Media, reaching Swiss German-speaking audiences via cable/IPTV and competing for the same entertainment and advertising budgets as Star TV.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/startvtube
• Facebookfacebook.com/StarTVswitzerland
• Instagraminstagram.com/startv_schweiz/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@startv_schweiz
• Xx.com/startvch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startv-switzerland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star TV