Wikipedia

BBC UKTV

This article is about the channel in Australia and New Zealand. For the network of television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland, also owned by BBC Studios, seeUKTV.

BBC UKTVis an Australianpay televisionchannel in Australia and New Zealand, screening British entertainment programming, sourced mainly from the archives of theBBC,RTL Group(mainlyTalkback Thamesmaterial) andITV plc.The channel was originally a joint venture withFoxtel(60% ownership), the RTL Group (20% ownership) andBBC Worldwide(20% ownership). It is now owned solely byBBC Studios.It is the home of the channel's flagship programmeThe Graham Norton Show.

BBC UKTV
CountryAustralia
Broadcast areaAustralia
New Zealand
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080iHDTV
TimeshiftserviceBBC UKTV +2
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
Sister channels
History
LaunchedAugust 1996[1]
ReplacedBBC HD(BBC UKTV HD)
Former namesUKTV(1996–2013)
Links
WebsiteAustraliaNew Zealand
Availability
Streaming media
Foxtel Go
(AU)		Channel 105
Fetch Mobi
(AU)		Channel 112
Binge(AU)binge.com.au

History

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The channel was first launched in Australia in August 1996,[1]becoming available on Austar in April 1999 and on Optus in December 2002.[2]A New Zealand version with different programming launched onSky TV,in November 2003.[3][4]

It shows a mix of repeats of old UK shows previously screened in Australia or New Zealand and new episodes of programs not shown before in either country. Repeated series includeDoctor Who,Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,Are You Being Served?,Dad's Army,Torchwood,Torchwood Declassified,The Jewel in the Crown,Never the Twain,The Sweeney,andThe Billthat have already been seen on free-to-air terrestrial television in Australia. New series includeShameless,new episodes of popular soap operasCoronation StreetandEastEndersand the original UK version ofThe Weakest Linkwhich have not otherwise been screened in Australia.[5]UK soap operaFamily Affairs,which has never been screened on free-to-air Australian television, ran on UKTV from 1998 to 2007.[6]In July 2006 UKTV began screening 2006 episodes of UK soap operaEmmerdalewhich had never before been screened in Australia.[7]

UKTV's episodes ofEastEndersare currently two weeks behind the United Kingdom, andCoronation Streetis about one week behind. CurrentEmmerdaleepisodes currently in 2021 are about four weeks behind the original UK broadcasts.

In addition to British programming UKTV has repeated Australian soap operasSons and DaughtersandPrisonerwhich were both produced by theReg Grundy Organisation(now owned byFremantleMedia). In both cases the entire series was shown; theSons and Daughtersrepeat run was from 1997 until 2000 andPrisonerran from 1997 until October 2004,Prisoneris now screening on111 Hitsfrom March 2011. It also screened theTVNZsoap operaShortland Streetfor several years in the 1990s, after early episodes of that series had briefly been screened bySBSon free-to-air television in Australia.[8]

In Australia, UKTV, like all pay TV drama channels, is legally required to spend 10 per cent of its total program expenditure on funding new eligible (Australian and New Zealand) drama programs.[9]Such productions includeChangi,Supernova,Make or BreakandFalse Witness.

UKTV has separate services in Australia and New Zealand, partly to reflect different local tastes, but also for rights reasons, as many programmes are shown on free-to-air channels in New Zealand. For example,Coronation Streethas been shown onTVNZ 1for many years, while until May 2009,EastEnderswas shown onPrime,before moving to UKTV.

On 1 July 2008 BBC Worldwide assumed full control of UKTV. BBC Worldwide previously had a 20 per cent stake in UKTV in a three way partnership with Foxtel and Fremantle Media. BBC Worldwide launched two new Australian channels,BBC Knowledge(documentary and non-fiction programming) andCBeebies(an advertising-free channel for 0 to six-year-olds) on 1 November 2008.[10]

On 3 October 2009 UKTV revealed a new logo, displaying that of the BBC, although its name remained unchanged.[11]On 15 November 2009 the channel launched an HD simulcast, replacingBBC HD.

In April 2013, the channel changed its logo and name to BBC UKTV.[12]

On 1 July 2014, the HD simulcast closed, making the channel solely available in standard definition. This came prior to the launch ofBBC First,which would use the HD feed formerly used by BBC UKTV. In addition, BBC UKTV changed subscription packages on Foxtel - moving from the Drama & Lifestyle add-on package to the basic Essential package increasing its reach.[13]

On 1 February 2015, BBC UKTV launched onAustralian independent IPTVserviceFetch TV,after they won the broadcast rights toBBC Worldwide.[14][15]

From 10 October 2016, the channel refreshed its logo and branding identity, to appeal to a younger audience and better distinguish its programming from the more premium offerings on sister channelBBC First.[16]

In September 2022,BBC Studiospartnered with South African FTA broadcaster,OpenView HD,to launch the channel in the country. It will be available on Channel 114 as of 18 October 2022.[17][18][19]

On 15 August 2024, the HD simulcast will relaunch on Foxtel.[20]

Original programming

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Logo history

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  • 1996–2009
  • 2009–2013
  • 2013–2016
  • 2016 – present

References

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  1. ^abUKTV (Australia and New Zealand) (2 October 2009)."It was August 1996 when UK..."Twitter.Retrieved8 February2010.
  2. ^Everton, Denise (2 April 1999)."Best of the British Paytv".Applause.Illawarra Mercury.p. 11.
  3. ^"Best of British on SKY's UKTV Channel".Dominion Post.28 October 2003. p. 7.
  4. ^NICOL, Reed Megan (2 November 2003). "Best of British".The Sunday Star-Times.p. 38.
  5. ^Conway, Andrew (1 February 1999)."New Today for Dalley".Sydney Morning Herald.Sydney:Fairfax Media.p. 2. Archived fromthe originalon 21 March 2012.Retrieved10 February2010.
  6. ^Schembri, Jim; Harris, Paul; Kalina, Paul (30 July 1998)."Programs – Monday".The Age Green Guide.Melbourne:Fairfax Media.p. 32.Retrieved16 January2010.
  7. ^"Symons: Marilyn Fisher was easy, cracking the UK wasn't".Australian Associated Press.22 June 2006.
  8. ^The SBS Story: The Challenge of Diversity,Ien Ang, Gay Hawkins, Lamia Dabboussy, UNSW Press, 2008, page 154
  9. ^Australian content,Australian Communications and Media Authority,25 September 2007
  10. ^The Beeb takes over UKTV[permanent dead link‍]– encore Magazine,25 June 2008
  11. ^UKTV Australia [@UKTVaustralia] (2 October 2009)."Today UKTV launches a brand new logo, and on-air look. Tune into Channel 103 for a taste"(Tweet). Archived fromthe originalon 6 March 2014 – viaTwitter.
  12. ^"New look: BBC UKTV".The Branding Source. 9 April 2013.Retrieved10 April2013.
  13. ^Knox, David (2 July 2014)."Foxtel Channel Changes".TV Tonight.Retrieved2 July2014.
  14. ^Knox, David (9 December 2014)."Fetch TV adds BBC First".TV Tonight.Retrieved19 December2014.
  15. ^Perry, Kevin (9 December 2014)."Big Blow for Foxtel as they Lose Exclusive Rights for Premium Drama Channel BBC First".Nelbie. Archived fromthe originalon 19 December 2014.Retrieved19 December2014.
  16. ^Knox, David (6 October 2016)."UKTV refreshes in bid for younger viewers".TV Tonight.Retrieved6 October2016.
  17. ^Mann, Colin (29 September 2022)."BBC UKTV to launch in South Africa".Retrieved3 October2022.
  18. ^"BBC Studios channel first for South Africa".Broadband TV News.29 September 2022.Retrieved3 October2022.
  19. ^Brzoznowski, Kristin (29 September 2022)."BBC Studios Launching Its First Free-to-View Channel in South Africa".TVMEA.Retrieved3 October2022.
  20. ^"Content Changes 2024".Foxtel.Retrieved30 June2024.
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