Starview

Rediffusion Starview was an early premium TV channel in the United Kingdom, operated by Rediffusion.

The Home Office had granted several experimental licenses to broadcast subscription television services, of which Rediffusion received licenses for five areas, Burnley, Hull, Pontypridd, Reading and Tunbridge Wells. Starview was the first of these services launched on 9 September 1981. Its schedules were mostly made up of feature films, initially with two films per evening and additional screenings at the weekends.[1]

Other early UK cable services started around the same time were Showcable (Visionhire/BBC Enterprises), SelecTV and Cinematel (Radio Rentals/Thorn EMI).