Diva (Asian TV channel) – Wikipedia

Asian pay television channel

Television channel

Diva (formerly Diva Universal) was an English-language pay television channel in Singapore. It launched on 3 May 1995 as Hallmark Entertainment Network, along with E!, and was first owned by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS). In 2010, as part of an agreement with NBCUniversal International Networks, the channel was renamed Diva Universal in 2010 and then Diva in 2014. It closed at the end of in 2019 in anticipation of the launch of streaming service Hayu in the region.

History[edit]

Hallmark Entertainment Network (1995-2001)[edit]

Hallmark Entertainment Network Asia was launched on 3 May 1995 as a Singaporean 24-hour English pay television channel, owned by Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS) under license from Hallmark Entertainment. The channel had its headquarters in Singapore, while the channel was broadcasted in Southeast Asia.

Hallmark Entertainment Network Asia was launched at 12am SST with a opening ceremony by Tyra Banks. Hallmark Entertainment Channel was an Asian version of the international TV brand, Hallmark Entertainment Network, which in turn owned by Hallmark Entertainment. Hallmark Entertainment Network Asia’s launch was celebrated on air in iconic locations; the Padang, Singapore and Changi Airport.

Hallmark Entertainment Network and E! Entertainment Television’s production facilities were in Singapore. Among the popular reality shows aired on the channel were Oprah Winfrey’s The Oprah Winfrey Show and Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Hallmark Channel (2001-2010)[edit]

In 2001, Hallmark Entertainment Network was rebranded as Hallmark Channel, following the global rebrand.

Diva Universal (2010-2014)[edit]

Hallmark Channel Asia was officially rebranded becomes Diva Universal on 19 September 2010 after its brand licensing agreement with Crown Media closure as part of NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal International Networks’s efforts to refocus its network portfolio. Coinciding with the officially launched of its high-definition feed along with the SD channel officially opened broadcasting in high-definition on 1 February 2014.

Diva (2014-2019)[edit]

On 16 June 2014, Diva Universal was officially simplified becomes Diva.

On 14 March 2018, Diva on Astro officially shift and switch to HD format and the HD version of Diva HD officially opening on 16 October 2019.

On 14 March 2018, The SD version of the channel on Astro switch to HD format.

Closure[edit]

As part of a restructuring at NBCUniversal International Networks and the launch of Hayu in Asia on 1 January 2020, E! and Diva ceased broadcast and transmission after its final programmes being About Time (Singapore) and Just for Laughs Gags (Vietnam) after the closing ceremony being held at Universal Studios Singapore, with the station ident/logo of DIVA Be Yourself and finally national anthem was played with Singapore English/Singlish translated (Singapore), and various promos and quotes (Vietnam).^[1]

After the closure of Diva, it cutted to black screen for two minutes until the closure message for providers that broadcasted the channel. For example, a Vietnamese provider broadcasted this message “THIS CHANNEL HAS BEEN CEASED BROADCAST. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER FOR DETAILS”. All Diva shows were moved to CNBC Asia. NBCUniversal channels in Asia only remain DreamWorks, CNBC Asia and Golf Channel.

Former operating channels[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]