The History and Evolution of the Star Sports Logo

Star Sports is a leading sports broadcaster in India and was launched in 1991 as Prime Sports. Owned by the Walt Disney Company, it operates several channels, including several Indian regional channels. It majorly competes with Sony Pictures Sports Network and Eurosport. The Star Sports logo has undergone several changes since its inception.

The evolution of its logo reflects both the changing landscape of sports broadcasting and the network’s ambition to offer sporting excellence in India. The article delves into the various logo changes of Star Sports, among other details, that have taken place over the years.

The Genesis of the Star Sports Logo (1991 – 1993)

The channel began as Prime Sports, which was a joint venture between the Hong Kong-based Star TV and the American company TCI. During this period, the original logo aligned with the Prime Sports brand and displayed a simple, international sports channel identity. It featured the right-tilted wordmark “Prime Sports” in two levels and enclosed within a slanted square.

The letters of the wordmark were written in white uppercase but with a double blue outline and shadows. The two wordmarks “Prime” and “Sports” were set against a white background and were separated by a thin line of the same colour characteristics.

There was also an alternate variant with blue as the background colour.

(1993 – 1996)

The 1993 logo variant featured the brand name in two levels and in two colour schemes. The top level featured the word “Prime” in bold, red uppercase, while the bottom level showed “Sports” in white lowercase. The lower-level wordmark in a smaller size was set against a deep blue background. Also, the upper part of the letter “t” was extended to the left to form a separator between the two wordmarks.

(1996 – 1999)

The logo during this period featured a vertically aligned rectangle in light orange. The top segment of the rectangle showed the wordmark “Star” in black uppercase with adequate spacing between the letters. The lower segment, on the other hand, showed the wordmark “Sports” in black uppercase. The centre of the rectangle featured a thick yellow star image broken at the top and set against a black background with an orange outline.

(1999 – 2001)

The 1999 logo variant showed a horizontal rectangle divided into two parts. The left part constituted the thick yellow star image with a broken end that was introduced in the previous version. The star image was placed against a brown background. To the right of the star emblem appeared the brand name in two levels and against a white background. The top level showed “Star” in brown uppercase with adequate spacing between letters. The lower level showed “Sports” in a bigger size.

(2001 – 2009)

The 2001 logo was a refinement of the previous logo in a red and white colour combination. Here, the left part of the horizontal rectangle showed a four-pointed star in red with a sharp white accent against a white background. The right side of the rectangle showed the brand name in white uppercase and in two levels against a red background. The top left and bottom right ends of the rectangle were rounded for better visual aesthetics.

(2009 – 2013)

The 2009 logo variant showed the black star with a white accent at the centre and enclosed within two concentric circles in white and brown. The brand name in two levels and sizes appeared on the foreground of the star emblem.

(2013 – 2017)

On 6 November 2013, Star Sports underwent a rebranding. The network unified its diverse channels under one brand name and introduced a new logo. It was a metallic star with an explosive, incandescent trail. The new design was created by the Star India broadcast design team in collaboration with UK-based brand consultancy Venturethree and LA-based studio Capacity. The brand name in black was placed beneath the emblem in two levels and was written using the Nobel typeface.

(2017 – Present)

The latest logo of Star Sports was designed in 2017, and it was a refinement of the earlier logo. The metallic star emblem with an incandescent trail within had multiple colours and a thick black outline set against a white background. Beneath the emblem appeared the brand name in black in a single line. The sharp, bold, and iconic star represents strength and authority. On the other hand, the incandescent, colourful trail symbolises the intensity, passion, and dynamism of sports.

The Elements of the Star Sports Logo

Symbol

The Star Sports logo features a distinctive and modern design, characterised by a sharp metallic star with an explosive, colourful trail.

Font

The font used in the logo is a clean, bold, and sans-serif typeface, which complements the dynamic and authoritative presence of the brand. This choice of typography ensures high visibility and readability, aligning with the energetic and contemporary identity Star Sports aims to project.

Colour

The Star Sports logo employs a vibrant colour palette consisting of six signature colours – Vampire Black, UCLA Blue, Brandeis Blue, Electric Pink, Banana Yellow, and Malachite. The metallic star itself utilises shades of silver and grey to create a sleek, reflective effect.

The History of Star Sports

Star Sports is one of India’s most prominent sports broadcasters. It carries a rich and dynamic legacy that shows the evolution of sports television in the country. The origins of Star Sports can be traced back to 1991, when it was launched as Prime Sports. It was a joint venture between the Hong Kong-based Star TV and the American company Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI). The channel was named after TCI’s Prime-branded regional sports networks in the United States and was broadcast across Asia, including India, via the AsiaSat 7 satellite.

In 1996, Star Sports entered into a partnership with ESPN International, its main competitor in the region. This led to the creation of ESPN Star Sports, a Singapore-based joint venture that managed the combined sports broadcasting operations across Asia. The joint venture brought together the strengths of both brands and quickly became a dominant force in Asian sports broadcasting. It offered viewers a wide range of international and domestic sporting events.

A major turning point for Star Sports was in June 2012, when News Corporation (which had acquired Star TV) announced it would buy out ESPN’s stake in ESPN Star Sports. The transaction was completed in January 2013 and made Star TV the sole owner. This change paved the way for a comprehensive rebranding in November 2013. Consequently, the network dropped the ESPN and Star Cricket brands and consolidated its sports channels under the unified Star Sports banner.

Channels were realigned and renamed. Thus, Star Sports became Star Sports 1, Star Cricket became Star Sports 3, and ESPN became Star Sports 4. High-definition channels were also introduced, which reflected the network’s commitment to technological advancement and viewer experience.

Over the years, Star Sports has expanded its portfolio. It did so by launching regional language channels such as Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, and Star Sports 1 Kannada. The network has also played a key role in promoting and broadcasting major sporting events, which included the Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, the Indian Super League (ISL), Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), and international football leagues like the Premier League and Wimbledon.

The ownership of Star Sports changed hands again in March 2019, when The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox, the corporate successor to News Corporation. Most recently, in 2025, JioStar, which is a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India, integrated Sports18 channels into the Star Sports Network. It thus expanded its reach to 24 channels and further solidified its position as India’s leading sports broadcaster.

Since its inception, Star Sports has continually adapted to the changing media landscape. It has embraced new technologies, expanded regional offerings, and secured broadcast rights to some of the world’s most-watched sporting events. Its evolution reflects a commitment to making sports accessible, immersive, and integral to the daily lives of millions of viewers across India and the broader subcontinent.

Interesting Facts About Star Sports

Star Sports was originally launched in 1991 as Prime Sports, which was a joint venture between Hong Kong-based Star TV and American company Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI).
In 1996, Star Sports merged its operations in Asia with ESPN International to form the joint venture ESPN Star Sports. This dominated sports broadcasting in the region for many years.
In 2013, after News Corporation acquired ESPN’s stake, Star Sports rebranded itself and unified all its channels under the Star Sports brand. It introduced a new metal star logo with an explosive trail symbolising passion and intensity in sports.
Star Sports holds exclusive broadcasting rights to major sporting events in India. These include the Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments, Premier League football, Wimbledon, Indian Super League, and ONE Championship.
The network has expanded its reach by launching multiple regional language channels such as Star Sports 1 Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
In 2017, Star Sports launched India’s first private free-to-air sports channel, Star Sports First. It helped boost the popularity of sports like Kabaddi by allowing fans to watch without subscription fees.
Star Sports has been a pioneer in inclusive broadcasting. For instance, in 2024, it introduced live sign language commentary and descriptive audio for IPL and ICC T20 World Cup matches. This enabled millions of deaf, hard-of-hearing, and visually impaired fans to enjoy cricket.
The network is now owned by JioStar, which is a joint venture between Viacom18 and Disney India. This follows Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019 and the integration of Sports18 channels into the Star Sports network in 2025.
The acquisition of the IPL broadcasting rights by Star Sports since 2018 has driven a 40% growth in TV viewership.
The network streams many of its events on digital platforms like JioHotstar and Disney+ Hotstar. It reaches diverse audiences not only in India but also in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the UK, and Singapore.

Finally

The Star Sports logo has evolved from a simple, international sports brand to a unified, dynamic, and authoritative symbol of sports broadcasting in India. The 2013 rebranding, with its metallic star and vibrant trail, marked a new era. It reflected both the network’s ambition and the passion of sports fans across the country. This evolution streamlined the brand as well as reinforced the position of Star Sports as a leader in sports entertainment.