About UKTV
UKTV's new entertainment channels
noon 12:06:08
UKTV today announces a significant evolution in its channel strategy with some of the most major changes ever undertaken by a leading digital channel broadcaster.
Brand new channel
UKTV will launch a brand new entertainment subscription channel in October. Sitting beside Gold, its schedule will combine high quality contemporary BBC shows including Torchwood, Mistresses and Larkrise to Candleford with movies and the new Richard and Judy primetime show. The channel will aim to operate as linear catch-up service for modern classics. The identity of the new channel will be revealed later this summer.
Gold
Gold will be given a brand new mission – to dedicate itself solely to celebrating comedy and to give the UK a channel packed with the best comedy shows from Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers to Little Britain. The Gold channel name will not be changing but its identity will now focus away from retro and towards comedy.
Drama
The final transformation in UKTV's entertainment portfolio will be to turn UKTV Drama into a channel exclusively dedicated to crime drama. A world where crime in all its different guises, from the traditional and languid Miss Marple to the slick and contemporary Waking the Dead can happily co-exist in a credible and compelling brand
Matthew Littleford, UKTV Controller explains: "We've already got the number one pay channel, Gold, in entertainment. Building on that position of strength, we've decided to take the bold decision to launch two new entertainment channels and re-brand Gold, all by Q4 this year. The scale of change at UKTV demonstrates the magnitude of our ambition and will future-proof our business as we head towards 2012."
Christian Drobnyk, Director of Entertainment, adds: "We need to grab viewers' attention as they flick through the EPG with strong channel brands that resonate with our viewers and showcase the exceptional line-up of programmes we have to ensure we have the most editorially and commercially desirable channels in multi-channel."
Tom Lucas, Director of Marketing and Communications is leading the ambitious re-brand, working closely with Red Bee Media.
UKTV will launch a brand new entertainment subscription channel in October. Sitting beside Gold, its schedule will combine high quality contemporary BBC shows including Torchwood, Mistresses and Larkrise to Candleford with movies and the new Richard and Judy primetime show. The channel will aim to operate as linear catch-up service for modern classics. The identity of the new channel will be revealed later this summer.
Gold
Gold will be given a brand new mission – to dedicate itself solely to celebrating comedy and to give the UK a channel packed with the best comedy shows from Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers to Little Britain. The Gold channel name will not be changing but its identity will now focus away from retro and towards comedy.
Drama
The final transformation in UKTV's entertainment portfolio will be to turn UKTV Drama into a channel exclusively dedicated to crime drama. A world where crime in all its different guises, from the traditional and languid Miss Marple to the slick and contemporary Waking the Dead can happily co-exist in a credible and compelling brand
Matthew Littleford, UKTV Controller explains: "We've already got the number one pay channel, Gold, in entertainment. Building on that position of strength, we've decided to take the bold decision to launch two new entertainment channels and re-brand Gold, all by Q4 this year. The scale of change at UKTV demonstrates the magnitude of our ambition and will future-proof our business as we head towards 2012."
Christian Drobnyk, Director of Entertainment, adds: "We need to grab viewers' attention as they flick through the EPG with strong channel brands that resonate with our viewers and showcase the exceptional line-up of programmes we have to ensure we have the most editorially and commercially desirable channels in multi-channel."
Tom Lucas, Director of Marketing and Communications is leading the ambitious re-brand, working closely with Red Bee Media.
