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U&Drama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the British television channel. For the channel formerly known as UKTV Drama, seeAlibi (TV channel).

U&Drama
Logo used since 2024
Broadcast areaUnited KingdomandIreland
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080iHDTV
(SDTVfeed downscaled to16:9576i)
TimeshiftserviceU&Drama +1
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
ParentUKTV
Sister channelsAlibi
U&Dave
Eden
Gold
U&W
U&Yesterday
History
Launched8 July 2013;11 years ago(2013-07-08)
ReplacedBlighty
CCXTV(Drama +1, Freeview only)
Former namesDrama (2013–2024)
Availability
Terrestrial
FreeviewChannel 20
Channel 60 (+1)
Streaming media
UWatch Free(UK and Ireland Only)

U&Dramais a Britishfree-to-airtelevision channel broadcasting drama (and, to a lesser extent, comedy, sci-fi) programming in the United Kingdom and Ireland as part of theUKTVnetwork of channels.

History

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The channel launched on 8 July 2013,[1]replacingBlighty.[2]The channel was initially launched onFreeviewchannel 20, which was previously occupied byGold,[3]and onSkythe channel was launched on channel 291, in the overspill area of the Entertainment section. It was moved to channel 166 on 24 July after purchasing the slot used byPBS America(formerly named PBS UK in 2011).[4]The channel launched onVirgin Mediaon 14 August on channel 190. In September 2014, UKTV blamed the channel for their 7% profits fall. In September 2018, Drama andReallywere added toVirgin Media Ireland,and at 16 July 2024, they rebranded to U&Drama.

Channels

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U&Drama HD

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HD logo used since 16 July 2024

U&Drama HD is the higher resolution version of U&Drama available on Virgin Media.

U&Drama +1

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Timeshift logo used since 16 July 2024


A timeshift channel, Drama +1, was launched on Sky and Virgin Media on 16 September 2019, replacingTravel Channel +1.On 25 January 2021, it was announced that the timeshift channel would be taking over CCXTV's Freeview slot (channel 73) on 1 February 2021, with CCXTV ending transmission.[5]On 1 February 2022,BBC Threerelaunched on Freeview channel 23 which shifted all the channels from that slot until Freeview 82 down a place, meaning that Drama +1 was now on channel 74.[6]

On 28 March 2022, Drama +1 moved to Freeview 60[7][8]as a limited reach channel, as channel 25 was used by UKTV for their female skewingWchannel,[9][10][11][12][13]which means thatDave ja vutook the COM4 slot from Drama +1 on Freeview channel 74.[7]

Programming

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The channel is positioned as a home for British dramas from the last 40 years. The channel has featured classic drama series such asAuf Wiedersehen, Pet;The Cinder Path;Cranford;Lark Rise to Candleford;Pride & Prejudice;Sharpe;andTipping the Velvet.[14]As well as all these classic drama titles, a number of more recently produced BBC One daytime drama series have acquired a primetime slot on Drama. These series includeFather Brown,which has been showing in an 8pm slot on Friday nights and which has a spin-off series, calledSister Boniface Mysteries.This period detective television series about a Catholic Nun[15][16]is a co-production between BBC Studios and Britbox in North America,[17]and has debuted as a free-to-air series directly on Drama, without getting an airing first on BBC One. In addition to drama programmes, the channel shows a number of classic BBC sitcoms in a teatime slot (usually between 5:25 pm and 8 pm) withLast of the Summer Wine,Keeping Up AppearancesandBirds of a Feathercurrently being repeated in May 2024.[18]

Current

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Previous

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References

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  1. ^"UKTV raises the curtain on Drama"(Press release). UKTV. 2 May 2013.Retrieved2 May2013.
  2. ^"UKTV's Drama channel reveals line-up, Yesterday goes factual and Blighty looks set to close".a516digital. 21 June 2013.Retrieved21 June2013.
  3. ^"Drama as new channel forces Gold to move Home on the Freeview EPG".a516digital. 24 June 2013.Retrieved25 June2013.
  4. ^White, Peter (17 July 2013)."PBS America sells Sky slot to UKTV".Broadcast.Retrieved17 July2013.
  5. ^"Plug pulled on CCXTV Freeview channel".rxtvinfo. 25 January 2021.
  6. ^"Freeview Updates".22 May 2024.
  7. ^ab"Freeview channel reshuffle as W joins".21 March 2022.
  8. ^"Freeview announces further channel changes on Monday".22 March 2022.
  9. ^"Uktv Take W Free-To-Air with Channel Rebrand".21 March 2022.
  10. ^"UKTV expands W's reach by taking the premium entertainment channel free-to-air | News | UKTV Corporate Site".
  11. ^"UKTV to make W channel free-to-air".21 March 2022.
  12. ^"UKTV's W launches" Life Unfiltered "rebrand as the premium entertainment channel is taken free-to-air | News | UKTV Corporate Site".
  13. ^"UKTV relaunches W as free-to-air channel".21 March 2022.
  14. ^Munn, Patrick (2 May 2013)."UKTV To Launch New Drama Channel on July 8th".TVWise.Retrieved2 May2013.
  15. ^"Sister Boniface Mysteries | Drama Channel".
  16. ^"Drama Sets UK Premiere Date for 'Sister Boniface Mysteries'".22 February 2022.
  17. ^"BritBox North America recommission BBC Studios Drama Productions' Sister Boniface Mysteries".
  18. ^Radio Times19–25 March 2022 edition: Drama's TV schedules Monday to Friday
  19. ^"Classic Doctors comes to Drama Channel from August".EastieOaks.22 July 2023.Retrieved22 July2023.
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