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 — originally with the same graphics — as UK Drama, see above
*[[Play UK]] (formerly UK Play) — 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)]]