UKTV 623322 225274848 2008-07-12T20:52:32Z 91.108.150.111 /* With the UKTV brand */ {{Two other uses|the UKTV network of channels in the UK and Ireland|the television channel in Australia and New Zealand|UKTV (Australia and New Zealand)|the Middle Eastern channel owned by ITV plc|Granada UKTV}} {{Infobox Network |network_name = UKTV |network_logo = [[Image:UKTV.svg]] |country = [[United Kingdom]] |network_type = [[Television]] and [[Website|Online]] |available = National |owner = 50% [[BBC Worldwide]]<br />50% [[Virgin Media Television]] |launch_date = Nov 1997 |website = [http://www.uktv.co.uk/ www.uktv.co.uk] }} '''UKTV''' is a joint venture between the [[BBC]]'s commercial arm, [[BBC Worldwide]], and [[Virgin Media]] owned [[Virgin Media Television]], formerly ''Flextech Television''. UKTV is one of the [[United Kingdom]]'s largest television companies. UKTV's channels are available via satellite and cable in the UK and the [[Republic of Ireland]]. In the UK, on [[digital terrestrial television]], [[UKTV History]] and [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] are available on the [[Freeview (United Kingdom)|Freeview]] platform, and selected parts of [[UKTV Gold]], [[UKTV Style]] and [[UKTV Food]] are available through [[Top Up TV]]. Most programmes on UKTV's channels are repeat broadcasts of BBC productions (although the entertainment channels also feature programmes made by other companies), and the channels themselves are played out by [[Red Bee Media]] (formerly ''BBC Broadcast'') from their 'Broadcast Centre' in West [[London]]. Before [[31 January]] [[2008]] all UKTV output was in [[Aspect ratio (image)#4:3 standard|4:3]] ratio, programmes originally produced in [[Aspect ratio (image)#16:9 standard|16:9]] widescreen format were cut down to a [[14:9]] letterbox format. Since that date UKTV began broadcasting all advertising, its continuity and some recently purchased programme material in the full 16:9 format. From [[2008]] UKTV are considering airing localised versions of their channels in the [[Republic of Ireland]] market featuring local advertisements and sponsorship.{{fact|date=February 2008}} ==2008 Rebrand== On [[10th July]] [[2008]] it was announced that the UKTV network is to be rebranded on 7th October 2008. "UKTV Gold" will become "Gold", "UKTV Gold +1" will become "Watch" and will feature the new show from Richard & Judy and "UKTV Drama" will become "Alibi"., <ref>{{cite news | title=UKTV to rebrand all channels | publisher=Broadcast | date=[[12 June]], [[2008]] | url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/06/uktv_to_rebrand_all_channels.html | accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref> ==Channels== ''For more information on UKTV channels and defunct channels, see [[Virgin Media Television#UKTV]]'' ===Coming Soon=== *[[Watch (TV Channel)|Watch]] Coming on October 7th to Sky and Virgin Media. ===With the UKTV brand=== *[[UKTV Documentary]] *[[UKTV Drama]] (to be relaunched as "Alibi") *[[UKTV Food]] *[[UKTV Gardens]] *[[UKTV Gold]] (to be relaunched as "Gold") *[[UKTV History]] *[[UKTV People]] *[[UKTV Style]] ===Without the UKTV brand=== *[[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] ===Timeshift services=== Most of the channels have timeshift services apart from UKTV Gardens and UKTV People (Although the latter had one for a while until it closed down to make way for UKTV Drama +1). As well as having a +1 hour time-shift channel, UKTV Style also has UKTV Style 2 (+2 hour) time-shifted channel, which launched on [[12 December]] [[2007]]. ===Defunct channels=== *UK Arena - focused on [[arts]] programming. Closed in 2000 due to insufficient ratings, relaunched &mdash; originally with the same graphics &mdash; as UK Drama, see above *[[Play UK]] (formerly UK Play) &mdash; closed in 2002 due to low ratings because of the closure of [[ITV Digital]] *UK Gold 2 (formerly UK Gold Classics) - closed in 2003, became UKG2 (later UKTV G2 and then Dave) *[[UK Horizons]] - closed in 2004 to create UKTV People and UKTV Documentary *UKTV People +1 - closed in 2006 to create UKTV Drama +1 *[[UKTV Bright Ideas]] - closed in 2007 on all platforms for the relaunch of UKTV G2/Dave going onto Freeview UK Horizons and UK Arena were named after the BBC's flagship [[science]] and arts documentaries, ''[[Horizon (BBC TV series)|Horizon]]'' and ''[[Arena (television)|Arena]]''. '''Note:''' There was a channel called UK Living that was originally affiliated with UK Gold but did not become part of the UKTV network, it changed its name to [[Living (channel)|LivingTV]] before the UKTV network launched. ==References== {{Reflist}} http://uktv.co.uk/uktv/item/aid/603804 ==External links== *[http://www.uktv.co.uk UKTV.co.uk] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk BBC] *[http://www.virginmediatv.com Virgin Media Television] *[http://www.topup.tv Top Up TV] *[http://thetvroom.com/uktv The TV Room] looks at presentation/branding on the UKTV channels {{UKTV}} {{Virgin Media Television}} {{BBC Television}} [[Category:British television networks]] [[Category:UKTV channels| ]] [[Category:Companies based in London]] [[Category:Virgin Media Television]] [[Category:BBC]] [[pl:UKTV (Europa)]]