PrimeStar

PrimeStar was a Belgian premium television channel focused primarily on films and operated within Telenet's subscription television portfolio. It was introduced on 3 September 2005 alongside the premium sports service that later became Sporting Telenet and is now known as Play Sports. The launch replaced the Canal+ Flanders television channels and established a new premium-content structure for Telenet customers. The channel was part of the Prime family, which offered several specialized premium channels rather than a single general-interest service. PrimeStar concentrated on feature films, including Belgian and international productions, and promoted television premieres as a central part of its programming. Its schedule also included blockbuster films and children's programming. A delayed version, PRIME Star +1, provided substantially the same schedule one hour later and operated as a timeshift companion to the main channel. PrimeStar was distributed through Telenet's television platform in Belgium and later through the operator's Yelo Play service. Access was tied to the Play More package, making the channel a subscription product rather than a broadly distributed free-to-air broadcaster. In March 2015, Telenet moved the Prime channels to exclusive high-definition broadcasting. At that point, PRIME Star +1 was discontinued, removing the channel's timeshift format. The Prime brand was retired in a wider portfolio change on 13 December 2016. PrimeStar was rebranded as Play More Cinema, while the redesigned Play More offer added a subscription video-on-demand component and introduced Play More Black. The change connected the film channel more explicitly to Telenet's broader Play More entertainment package. Further consolidation followed. On 1 January 2019, Play More Cinema merged with Play More Series, which had previously been known as PRIME Series. The merger combined film and series programming within a single channel identity. Other Play More services were also reorganized: Play More Relax and Play More Select were combined, and the resulting programming was subsequently folded into Play More Kicks in June 2020. On 28 January 2021, the remaining Play More channels adopted names under the Play brand and received updated on-air presentation. PrimeStar therefore no longer operates as an independent brand, but its programming lineage continued through Play More Cinema and later Play-branded services.

PrimeStar was created as part of Telenet's overhaul of premium television services in Belgium. It launched on 3 September 2005 together with Telenet's premium sports service, replacing the Canal+ Flanders channels. The new Prime portfolio separated premium entertainment into dedicated film and sports propositions. PrimeStar served as the film-focused channel, while the companion sports service developed separately and was later known as Sporting Telenet and Play Sports. The channel's programming emphasized premium feature films, including Belgian and international productions. Its schedule was built around television premieres, with additional blockbuster and children's film slots. Telenet initially offered five channels and a one-hour delayed version of the principal film channel. This companion service, PRIME Star +1, allowed subscribers to watch the same programming later and extended the utility of the premium package without creating a separate schedule. PrimeStar was distributed through Telenet's Belgian television network and was also available through Yelo Play. It was not positioned as a mass-market free channel; access was associated with the operator's Play More package. This distribution model linked the brand's audience and commercial reach to Telenet's pay-television customer base. A technical and portfolio change occurred in March 2015, when Telenet's Prime channels moved to exclusive HD broadcasting. The transition ended PRIME Star +1, which was no longer maintained as a separate delayed channel. The main PrimeStar service continued as part of the premium lineup until the broader Prime-to-Play More rebrand on 13 December 2016. The rebrand converted PrimeStar into Play More Cinema. This was more than a name change: Telenet used the Play More identity for a broader entertainment proposition that included subscription video on demand and a new channel, Play More Black. The channel continued to occupy the film-oriented role within the package, but it no longer operated under the PrimeStar name. The successor service was subsequently consolidated with Play More Series on 1 January 2019. Play More Series had itself descended from PRIME Series, so the merger combined two strands of the former Prime-era premium programming structure. In the same period, Telenet also reorganized other entertainment channels, including the later combination of Play More Relax and Play More Select and their subsequent integration into Play More Kicks in June 2020. On 28 January 2021, all three remaining channels were rebranded under the Play name and received a revised on-air identity. PrimeStar is therefore a discontinued channel brand whose operational and programming legacy continued through Play More Cinema and later Play-branded channels. The available reference material does not identify a standalone corporate entity, independent founders, a separate headquarters, or a public listing for PrimeStar.

• 2021

  Play channel rebrand

  [1]Play Moreen.wikipedia.org

  On 28 January, the remaining Play More channels adopt names under the Play brand and receive updated on-air imaging.

• 2019

  Film and series channels merge

  [1]Play Moreen.wikipedia.org

  Play More Cinema merges with Play More Series on 1 January.

• 2016

  PrimeStar becomes Play More Cinema

  [1]Play Moreen.wikipedia.org

  The Prime brand is replaced by Play More on 13 December. PrimeStar is renamed Play More Cinema within a package that also adds subscription video on demand and Play More Black.

• 2015

  HD-only broadcasting begins

  [1]Play Moreen.wikipedia.org

  The Prime channels become HD-only from March, and the PRIME Star +1 delayed channel is closed.

• 2005

  PrimeStar launches

  [1]Play Moreen.wikipedia.org

  PrimeStar launches in Belgium on 3 September as part of Telenet's premium television portfolio and replaces the Canal+ Flanders film channels.

A premium, subscription-based Belgian film channel positioned around television premieres, major international movies, Belgian productions, and selected family viewing.

• Premium film television channel · 2005

  PrimeStar

  The principal Prime-era film channel, offering Belgian and international productions, television premieres, major films, and children's programming. It was distributed through Telenet's subscription television platform and the Yelo Play service as part of the Play More package. The channel was rebranded as Play More Cinema in December 2016.

• Timeshift television channel · 2005

  PRIME Star +1

  A delayed companion to PrimeStar that carried the principal channel's programming one hour later. The service operated as part of the original Prime channel lineup and was closed when the Prime channels moved to exclusive HD broadcasting in March 2015.

• 2019

  Merge Play More Cinema with Play More SeriesGeneration change

  Background

  Telenet continued consolidating the channel lineup inherited from the Prime and Play More portfolios.

  Action taken

  On 1 January 2019, Play More Cinema merged with Play More Series.

  Aftermath

  Film and series programming were combined within a reorganized premium channel structure.

  Source

• 2016

  Replace PrimeStar with Play More CinemaStrategy

  Background

  Telenet broadened its premium entertainment proposition beyond the earlier Prime channel architecture.

  Action taken

  On 13 December 2016, PrimeStar was renamed Play More Cinema as part of a package rebrand that added subscription video on demand and Play More Black.

  Aftermath

  The PrimeStar identity was retired, while the film-channel function continued under Play More Cinema.

  Source

• 2015

  Move the Prime channels to HD-only distributionStrategy

  Background

  Telenet was modernizing the technical presentation of its premium television portfolio.

  Action taken

  From March 2015, the Prime channels were broadcast exclusively in high definition, and the PRIME Star +1 timeshift channel was closed.

  Aftermath

  PrimeStar continued as the principal film service until the subsequent transition to the Play More brand.

  Source

1. 1Play Moreen.wikipedia.org