Virgin 17
| Virgin 17 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 17 October 2005 |
| Closed | 1 September 2010 |
| Owned by |
MCM Group (2008-2010) Groupe Bolloré (2010) |
| Audience share | 1.1% (May 2010, ) |
| Country | France |
| Formerly called | iMCM (2004–05) Europe2TV (2005–2007) |
Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| TNT | Channel 17 |
| Satellite | |
| CanalSat | Channel 37 |
| Bis Televisions | Channel 17 |
| Cable | |
| Numericable | Channel 216 |
| MC Cable | Channel 159 |
| IPTV | |
| Orange TV | Channel 17 |
| SFR TV | Channel 17 |
| Freebox TV | Channel 17 |
| Alice | Channel 17 |
| DartyBox | Channel 17 |
Virgin 17 was a French music video and TV show television network owned by the MCM Group, a subsidiary of Lagardère Active. It was available through digital terrestrial television in France, "TNT".
The channel was created for the launch of TNT and modelled after MCM, another channel owned by Lagardère Active. It initially had the working title "iMCM", but before launch it was named after the radio station Europe 2, and was then renamed Virgin 17 on 1 January 2008 (along with the radio station which became Virgin Radio France) From 1 September 2010, Virgin 17 changed its name to Direct Star. This change was intended by the Bolloré Group "for the sake of the uniform group" .
The TV channel has been broadcast free to air via satellite Hot Bird 8 (13°E) up to 2007-11-21. Now it's Viaccess encrypted and available to TPS subscribers (kingofsat.net change log, satscan.net) as well as on Internet television.
On 1 September 2010 Direct Star replaced Virgin 17.