As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 1996
                                                  Registration No. 333-_________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ----------------------

                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      California                                          94-3003250
(State of Incorporation)                               (I.R.S. Employer
                                                       Identification No.)

                        39650 Liberty Street, Third Floor
                            Fremont, California 94538
                                 (510) 657-9900
   (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                        --------------------------------

                          1989 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                        --------------------------------

                                Larry W. Wangberg
                              Chairman of the Board
                           and Chief Executive Officer
                            StarSight Telecast, Inc.
                        39650 Liberty Street, Third Floor
                            Fremont, California 94538
                                 (510) 657-9900
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                        --------------------------------

                                    Copy to:

                             CHRIS F. FENNELL, ESQ.
                       WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, California 94304

                        --------------------------------

================================================================================


<PAGE>

================================================================================

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================

                                     Proposed        Proposed
  Title of                            Maximum         Maximum
 Securities           Amount         Offering        Aggregate       Amount of
   to be              to be          Price Per       Offering      Registration
 Registered         Registered        Share(1)       Price(1)           Fee
================================================================================
Common Stock,
no par value,
to be issued
under the
1989 Stock
Incentive Program   900,000 shares    $ 6.94       $6,246,000        $2,154.00
================================================================================
(1)     Estimated  in  accordance  with Rule  457(c)  solely for the  purpose of
        calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high
        and low price for the Common  Stock as reported  on the Nasdaq  National
        Market System on May 16, 1996.
================================================================================


                                       -2-

<PAGE>


        The  contents  of  the  Registrant's  Form  S-8  Registration  Statement
(Registration  No.  33-68758) dated September 14, 1993 and Form S-8 Registration
Statement  (Registration  No. 33-87660) dated December 21, 1994 are incorporated
herein by reference.

        PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 8.  Exhibits

         Exhibit
         Number                         Documents
         -------         -----------------------------------------------

          4.1            1989 Stock Incentive Program

          5.1            Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities
                         being registered

         23.1            Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

         23.2            Consent of Independent Auditors

         24.1            Power of Attorney (see page 4)




                                       -3-

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant, StarSight Telecast, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of California, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-8 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the  City of  Fremont,  State  of
California, on this 17th day of May, 1996.


                                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.


                                            By: /s/ Larry W. Wangberg
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Larry W. Wangberg
                                                Chairman of the Board of
                                                Directors, Chief Executive
                                                Officer and Director





                                       -4-

<PAGE>



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Larry W. Wangberg and Martin W. Henkel,
jointly  and  severally,  his or her  attorneys-in-fact,  each with the power of
substitution,  for him or her in any and all capacities,  to sign any amendments
to this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact,  or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.


         PURSUANT  TO THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF  1933,  THIS
REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  HAS  BEEN  SIGNED  BY  THE  FOLLOWING  PERSONS  IN  THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.


         SIGNATURE                    TITLE                             DATE
-------------------------     ------------------------------        ------------

 /s/ Larry W. Wangberg        Chairman of the Board of              May 17, 1996
-------------------------     Directors and Chief Executive
(Larry W. Wangberg)           Officer 
                              (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Brian L. Klosterman       President, Chief Operating            May 17, 1996
-------------------------     Officer and Director
(Brian L. Klosterman)          



 /s/ Martin W. Henkel         Executive Vice President,             May 17, 1996
-------------------------     Chief Financial Officer and
(Martin W. Henkel)            Director (Principal Financial
                              and Accounting Officer)


/s/ Jack C. Clifford          Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(Jack C. Clifford)



-------------------------     Director                              May __, 1996
(Ajit M. Dalvi)


                                       -5-


<PAGE>


 /s/ Donn M. Davis            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(Donn M. Davis)



-------------------------     Director                              May __, 1996
(Thomas E. Dooley)


 /s/ John F. Doyle            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(John F. Doyle)


 /s/ John W. Goddard          Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(John W. Goddard)


-------------------------     Director                              May __, 1996
(Edward D. Horowitz)


/s/ James E. Meyer            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(James E. Meyer)


/s/ Jacques Thibon            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(Jacques Thibon)





                                       -6-

<PAGE>







                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                       ===================================

                                    EXHIBITS

                       ===================================

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

                                  MAY 20, 1996





<PAGE>

                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
NUMBER             DESCRIPTION
-------            -----------

  4.1      1989 Stock Incentive Program....................................

  5.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of
           securities being registered.....................................

 23.1      Consent of Counsel (contained in
           Exhibit 5.1)....................................................

 23.2      Consent of Independent Auditors.................................

 24.1      Power of Attorney (contained in page 4).........................
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 9848}]
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 1996
                                                  Registration No. 333-_________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             ----------------------

                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      California                                          94-3003250
(State of Incorporation)                               (I.R.S. Employer
                                                       Identification No.)

                        39650 Liberty Street, Third Floor
                            Fremont, California 94538
                                 (510) 657-9900
   (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                        --------------------------------

                          1989 STOCK INCENTIVE PROGRAM

                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                        --------------------------------

                                Larry W. Wangberg
                              Chairman of the Board
                           and Chief Executive Officer
                            StarSight Telecast, Inc.
                        39650 Liberty Street, Third Floor
                            Fremont, California 94538
                                 (510) 657-9900
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                        --------------------------------

                                    Copy to:

                             CHRIS F. FENNELL, ESQ.
                       WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, California 94304

                        --------------------------------

================================================================================
================================================================================

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================

                                     Proposed        Proposed
  Title of                            Maximum         Maximum
 Securities           Amount         Offering        Aggregate       Amount of
   to be              to be          Price Per       Offering      Registration
 Registered         Registered        Share(1)       Price(1)           Fee
================================================================================
Common Stock,
no par value,
to be issued
under the
1989 Stock
Incentive Program   900,000 shares    $ 6.94       $6,246,000        $2,154.00
================================================================================
(1)     Estimated  in  accordance  with Rule  457(c)  solely for the  purpose of
        calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high
        and low price for the Common  Stock as reported  on the Nasdaq  National
        Market System on May 16, 1996.
================================================================================

                                       -2-
The  contents  of  the  Registrant's  Form  S-8  Registration  Statement
(Registration  No.  33-68758) dated September 14, 1993 and Form S-8 Registration
Statement  (Registration  No. 33-87660) dated December 21, 1994 are incorporated
herein by reference.

        PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 8.  Exhibits

         Exhibit
         Number                         Documents
         -------         -----------------------------------------------

          4.1            1989 Stock Incentive Program

          5.1            Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities
                         being registered

         23.1            Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

         23.2            Consent of Independent Auditors

         24.1            Power of Attorney (see page 4)

                                       -3-
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant, StarSight Telecast, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of California, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe  that it meets all of the  requirements  for  filing on Form S-8 and has
duly  caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the  City of  Fremont,  State  of
California, on this 17th day of May, 1996.

                                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Larry W. Wangberg
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Larry W. Wangberg
                                                Chairman of the Board of
                                                Directors, Chief Executive
                                                Officer and Director

                                       -4-
POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Larry W. Wangberg and Martin W. Henkel,
jointly  and  severally,  his or her  attorneys-in-fact,  each with the power of
substitution,  for him or her in any and all capacities,  to sign any amendments
to this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact,  or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         PURSUANT  TO THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF  1933,  THIS
REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  HAS  BEEN  SIGNED  BY  THE  FOLLOWING  PERSONS  IN  THE
CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.

         SIGNATURE                    TITLE                             DATE
-------------------------     ------------------------------        ------------

 /s/ Larry W. Wangberg        Chairman of the Board of              May 17, 1996
-------------------------     Directors and Chief Executive
(Larry W. Wangberg)           Officer 
                              (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Brian L. Klosterman       President, Chief Operating            May 17, 1996
-------------------------     Officer and Director
(Brian L. Klosterman)          

 /s/ Martin W. Henkel         Executive Vice President,             May 17, 1996
-------------------------     Chief Financial Officer and
(Martin W. Henkel)            Director (Principal Financial
                              and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Jack C. Clifford          Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(Jack C. Clifford)

-------------------------     Director                              May __, 1996
(Ajit M. Dalvi)

                                       -5-
/s/ Donn M. Davis            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(Donn M. Davis)

-------------------------     Director                              May __, 1996
(Thomas E. Dooley)

 /s/ John F. Doyle            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(John F. Doyle)

 /s/ John W. Goddard          Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(John W. Goddard)

-------------------------     Director                              May __, 1996
(Edward D. Horowitz)

/s/ James E. Meyer            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(James E. Meyer)

/s/ Jacques Thibon            Director                              May 17, 1996
-------------------------
(Jacques Thibon)

                                       -6-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                       ===================================

                                    EXHIBITS

                       ===================================

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                            STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

                                  MAY 20, 1996
STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER             DESCRIPTION
-------            -----------

  4.1      1989 Stock Incentive Program....................................

  5.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of
           securities being registered.....................................

 23.1      Consent of Counsel (contained in
           Exhibit 5.1)....................................................

 23.2      Consent of Independent Auditors.................................

 24.1      Power of Attorney (contained in page 4).........................