Star World was first launched on 15 December 1991 as StarPlus was an English language general entertainment channel showing international television shows from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, with Zee TV being the Hindi language general entertainment channel counterpart operated the channel joint venture with Zee Telefilms which uplinked Hindi channel Zee TV from Hong Kong. The channel was broadcast across the continent of Asia, reaching from the Far East to the Middle East, as with AsiaSat 1's footprint. Star TV have since regionalised the channel. In July 2000, Star TV split Star Plus' beam into two, in effect, providing two separate services for different regional audiences within Star TV's footprint. This enabled the channel to provide appropriate programming and viewing time for viewers from different regions in Asia. Star Plus would serve viewers in India and the Middle East from then on, while the new Star World channel welcomed those in East and Southeast Asia. Star TV converted Star Plus into Hindi entertainment channel, and introduced Star World as English entertainment replacement in India and the Middle East. Earlier, Star TV had a joint venture with Zee Telefilms which uplinked Hindi channel Zee TV from Hong Kong. But that partnership was ended. On 1 October 2017, Hong Kong and Southeast Asian version of Star World was rebranded to Fox Life. The Good Fight was the last program to air before re-brand . Star World brand remains in versions broadcast to the Middle East, Taiwan, India and South Asia.
Operating channels
Although the channel shows the same programming, they mostly differ when it comes to showtimes.
Star World Asia - broadcast times HKT/SIN and WIB/BKK; simulcast with the Middle East feed at 24:00 to 06:00
Star World India - broadcast times IND; this has different content from the other feeds; this is the only feed managed by Star India
Star World Taiwan - broadcast times NST; selected programs are not same as the Asia feed, including local commercials
Star World Vietnam - broadcast times VN; selected programs are not same as the Asia feed, including local commercials
Star World HD Asia - same as the Asia feed except for the logo and commercial feed; available in selected territories only
Star World HD India - same as the India feed except for the logo and commercial feed; launched on 15 April 2011; only available in India and Nepal
Star World HD Philippines - same as the Philippines feed except for the logo and commercial feed; launched on 1 March 2012; a subsidiary of Fox Networks Group Philippines
Star World HD Vietnam - same as the Vietnam feed except for the logo and commercial feed