fbpx
Wikipedia

Gold (British TV channel)

February 16, 2024

Gold is a British pay television channel from the UKTV network that was launched in late 1992 as UK Gold before it was rebranded UKTV Gold in 2004. In 2008, it was split into current flagship channel Gold and miscellaneous channel, W, with classic comedy based programming now airing on Gold, non-crime drama and entertainment programming airing on W, and quiz shows and more high-brow comedy airing on Dave. It shows repeats of classic programming from the BBC, ITV and other broadcasters. Every December, from 2015 until 2018, the channel was temporarily renamed Christmas Gold. This has since been discontinued, although the channel still continues to broadcast Christmas comedy.

Gold
Logo used from 2014 onwards
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Isle of Man
Channel Islands
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Timeshift serviceGold +1
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
ParentUKTV
Sister channelsAlibi
Dave
Drama
Eden
W
Yesterday
History
Launched1 November 1992; 31 years ago (1 November 1992)
Former namesUK Gold (1992–2004)
UKTV Gold (2004–2008)
G.O.L.D. (2008–2010)
Links
Websitegold.uktv.co.uk
Availability
Streaming media
Sky GoWatch live
(UK and Ireland only)
Now TVWatch live (UK and Ireland only)
TVPlayerWatch live (UK only)
TalkTalk TVWatch live (UK only)

History edit

 
Gold logo from 2012 to 2014

The channel was formed as a joint venture between the BBC, through commercial arm BBC Enterprises, American company Cox Enterprises and outgoing ITV London weekday franchisee Thames Television, known as European Channel Management. The channel, named "UK Gold", was to show repeats of the 'classic' archive programming from the two broadcasters. The channel launched on 1 November 1992 at 7pm with Just Good Friends. The first commercial shown on the channel was for Lucozade, and all commercials shown in the first three breaks on the channel's launch night either had the word gold or golden in either the name of the brand advertised or mentioned in the commercial itself.

The rights to the BBC programmes previously were held by the BSB entertainment channel Galaxy, prior to the merger with Sky Television to form BSkyB in November 1990. The channel was initially broadcast on an analogue transponder from an SES satellite at 19.2°E which was less well suited for UK reception. As a result, the channel used to be notorious for being marred with interference, known as 'sparklies', in large parts of the UK. Another initial drawback was the cutting of programming down to fit commercial time slots, and the intensive use of commercial breaks. Reception improved however with the channel added to BSkyB's basic subscription package in 1993, and the launch of the channel on cable services.

In 1993, Flextech gained its first stake in the station after acquiring Tele-Communications Inc.'s TV interests in Europe.[1] In 1996, it started discussions about increasing its stake, to gain full control. At that point, Flextech held 27% with Cox (38%), BBC (20%) and Pearson (15%).[2] By the Autumn, Flextech held 80% of UK Gold.[3][4] Flextech's main reason for increasing its stake in UK Gold was in participation of new talks with the BBC.[5]

UKTV edit

The channel's success led to the launch of the UKTV network on 1 November 1997, owned by BBC Worldwide and Flextech, and consisting of three other channels: UK Arena, UK Horizons and UK Style, focusing on the arts, factual and lifestyle programmes respectively. The UKTV network would expand to include numerous more channels as the years progressed.

The UK Gold brand was expanded in October 1998 with the launch of the digital only channel UK Gold Classics, broadcasting some of the older comedy serials that were being lost from the UK Gold schedule, as the channel moved towards more modern programming. UK Gold Classics was not to last however, and was rebranded as UK Gold 2 on 2 April 1999, which acted as a time shift of the original channel, showing the daytime programmes from UK Gold in the evening on UK Gold 2. In 2003 however, UK Gold 2 was rebranded and repositioned as UK G2, with some programming transferring to the new channel.

 
UKTV Gold share of viewing BARB figures 1992–2007

On 8 March 2004, the channel was rebranded as "UKTV Gold" in line with the other channels in the UKTV network. At approximately the same time, Granada-run archive channel Granada Plus closed to make way for ITV3. The channels had always been the main rivals to Gold due to the direct mix of archive BBC and ITV programming. ITV3 currently has a higher viewer share, often put down to the fact that the terrestrial platform Freeview shows ITV3 but not Gold. In late 2004, to show films produced in Hollywood in a marathon, UKTV Gold temporarily changed its name to "USTV Gold".

Gold began transmitting in widescreen on 31 January 2008, although some programmes made in 16:9 format were screened in the compromise 14:9 semi-letterboxed ratio for a short while, before the 16:9 format became standard later in the year. The channel has been criticised by some, particularly in recent years, for featuring many recent programmes as opposed to 'classics' as was the original concept, with some shows appearing on the channel mere months or weeks after their first television broadcast.

2008 rebrand edit

In 2008, UKTV began a process of rebranding and expanding its channels, removing "UKTV" from their name, following the rebranding of UKTV G2 as Dave in October 2007. On 7 October 2008, UKTV Gold became "G.O.L.D.", exclusively showing comedy, both old and new. This is reflected by its new slogan, which now represents Gold as a backronym—"Go On Laugh Daily".[6] Unlike the complete name change for Dave, the Gold name was retained as having a resonance with viewers. The same day also saw the rebranding of UKTV Drama as Alibi, and the launch of a new channel, Watch. In Spring 2010, the channel dropped the acronym and is now known simply as "Gold".

In October 2011, Virgin Media, owner of half of Gold and the rest of the UKTV network, sold their share to Scripps Networks Interactive, with the remaining half still retained by the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.

2012 programming investment edit

In February 2012, it was announced that UKTV was to invest millions into producing its own original shows. According to the trade magazine, Broadcast, Gold "has secured a budget running into "double-digit millions" to create a raft of new comedy shows over the next two years". The article went on to say "the channel is looking to develop a mix of panel shows, sketch shows, sitcoms and comedy dramas". This move meant that Gold would follow its sister, Dave, which has resurrected Red Dwarf and produced numerous different panel and entertainment series, and BSkyB, who have invested £600m into original comedy for Sky One and Sky Atlantic. The first set of new series for Gold were broadcast in the latter half of 2012.[7]

UKTV executive Jane Rogers stated to Broadcast that the commissions would be high-quality, as "they would need to sit confidently alongside classics such as Only Fools And Horses and The Vicar of Dibley". She also added: "Gold is well entrenched in the UK's psyche as the home of national treasure comedies, so we cannot afford to look cheap next to those programmes. It's important that anything we order continues that love and feel, but we don't want to look back; we want a contemporary stamp on the channel." Commissioning editor Sarah Fraser commented that "there's never been a better time to invest in homegrown comedy. Comedians are selling out arena tours, being cast in the West End and on the big screen here and in the US."[7]

The first programme announced as part of the investment was a reboot of the BBC sitcom, Yes, Prime Minister, to be based on the 2010 stage production and written by original writers Sir Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. The reboot was the second classic BBC sitcom to be resurrected by a UKTV network, following the two Dave-commissioned series of Red Dwarf.[8] News about other new commissions for the channel were announced during the summer.[7]

Digital terrestrial edit

The channel was removed from Digital Terrestrial in 2013, along with Home as part of the closure of Top Up TV and was replaced with Drama in July 2013. However, Home relaunched on the platform in March 2016. Gold and Home were not available to watch on Freeview boxes and televisions due to them being encrypted as subscription channels on Top Up TV.

Subsidiary channels edit

Gold +1 edit

Alongside the main channel, a time shift channel is also operated: Gold +1. Corresponding to the name on the main channel, shows all programming from the channel one hour later.

The channel was originally announced by UKTV on 30 June 2002, under the name of UK Gold +1,[9] later launching on Sky on 1 August 2002. As with its then-sister UK Gold 2, it only initially broadcast in the evening, at 7pm-7am.[10] By 12 November 2003, the channel gained a full 24-hour slot, and later went under the names of UKTV Gold +1 and G.O.L.D. +1 before gaining its current name in 2010.

UK Gold Classics/UK Gold 2 edit

Main article: Dave (TV channel)

UK Gold Classics originally launched on 2 October 1998 to coincide with the launch of Sky Digital. It was UKTV's first digital-exclusive network. The channel initially focused on older programs while the main UK Gold began focusing more on newer programmes. The channel also only broadcast within the evening, airing from 6.00 pm to 2.00 am every day.

UK Gold Classics only lasted six months, with the channel closing on 28 March 1999, and from 2 April 1999, the channel was relaunched as UK Gold 2, becoming a secondary timeshift service that broadcast UK Gold's daytime schedule in the evening.

On 29 October 2003, UKTV announced that UK Gold 2 would be relaunched as UK G2 on 12 November, being reinvented as a younger-oriented edgier youth network aimed towards a 16-34-year-old demographic.[11]

Gold HD edit

A HD version of Gold was launched on 2 October 2017 exclusively to Sky, replacing Eden HD on the platform. Gold HD was added to Virgin Media on 25 September 2018, replacing Gold in standard definition. It was added to BT TV on 11 March 2019, along with Vice HD.

On-air identity edit

 
'Goldie' the UK Gold dog, used from 1992 to 1993

For the first few years, idents on UK Gold featured an animated golden retriever mascot named "Goldie" posing with the UK Gold logo. Goldie was never name-checked as such on air, possibly owing to the death of the Blue Peter dog Goldie some weeks before launch, although the late-night music video slot Dog House was originally listed as Goldie's Video Bites in initial pre-launch listings. The Goldie idents were kept until 1993, when they were replaced with a form-up of the first logo against a blue background. A rebranding in 1994 saw UK Gold adopt idents based on the forging of gold bars, with the station's logo appearing to have been stamped into gold. Variations on this theme were used until 1997, when the channel received a revamp as part of the formation of the UKTV network.[12]

 
A holding slide for the television programme Keeping Up Appearances which demonstrates the 1997-1999 corporate style

The new network's corporate identity saw all its channels logos simplified to a boxed "UK" followed by the name (e.g. "Gold") in the Gill Sans font, which had also been adopted by the BBC. The new network-wide ident theme would involve the splitting of the screen for different purposes. UK Gold's new idents depicted objects such as apples or leaves falling through the top half of the screen, with only the gold coloured ones reaching the bottom half of the screen. These idents were briefly adopted for UK Gold 2 when it launched in 1998.[12]

The theme changed again, this time with idents featuring fireworks making shapes in the air, was launched in April 1999. The fireworks theme was carried on in a new set of idents, alongside another network-wide rebranding of the logo in 2002, adopting a bolder font and merging UK into a single composite character. A range of live-action idents showing everyday activities from unusual perspectives appeared in 2002. The 2003 to 2007 idents showed channel hopping viewers with their TV set "off stage" being brought to a halt by the appearance of a golden light accompanied by the channel's ident jingle. This new identity also featured a series of shifting yellow, orange and red blocks which suggested a gold bar at the centre of the screen.[12]

On 4 April 2007, UKTV Gold unveiled a new on-air identity centred around a branded golden space hopper, playing to contemporary trends toward 1970s nostalgia, and emphasising the station's re-run content. Twelve new live action idents featured the branded space hopper, either with people on them bouncing around normally serious scenes, or let loose to bounce around the natural environment, aired from 5 April 2007 to 7 October 2008.[13]

On 7 October 2008, following the rebranding, Gold's 2008 presentation debuted, featuring cartoon objects making a giant chain, in Heath Robinson fashion, which triggers an event to herald the next programme. The Gold logo features in the centre, with the channel slogan usually appearing alongside in the sequence. Programmes are announced by sole channel continuity announcer David Flynn, who has had the position since June 2009.[12]

In 2012, the logo was changed slightly, with an updated ident package. These followed a similar style to the previous set, but instead of the previous backronym, the idents focussed on the slogan of ‘Stick Something Funny On’.

In July 2014, Gold rebranded after two years in its second identity. The logo is a ribbon with the letters "GOLD". The new idents have funny and wacky stuff happening (such as dancing legs). At the end of the idents, the ribbon comes out saying "GOLD", while the activity behind it is still going.

Programming edit

Currently made for GOLD (UKTV Originals) edit

  • 5 Minute Mayhem
  • 30 Years of The Comic Strip Presents
  • Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry
  • Billy Connolly Does...
  • Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga
  • Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments
  • Blackadder: The Lost Pilot
  • Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man
  • Bottom Exposed
  • Bring Me Morecambe & Wise
  • Britain's Greatest Comedian
  • Britain's Greatest Comedy Character
  • Bull
  • The Cockfields
  • Dad's Army: The Animations
  • Dad's Army: The Lost Episodes
  • David Jason: My Life On Screen
  • David Jason: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
  • dinnerladies diaries
  • Do Not Disturb
  • The Fast Show: Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases
  • The Fast Show: More Blooming Catchphrases
  • Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
  • Fawlty Towers: Basil's Best Bits
  • French And Saunders: Funny Women
  • Fry And Laurie Reunited
  • Hancock: Very Nearly An Armful
  • Henry IX
  • How The Young Ones Changed Comedy
  • The Interviews
  • Jo Brand's Great Wall of Comedy
  • Legends of Stand-up And Bernard Righton
  • Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy
  • Marley's Ghosts
  • Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly)
  • Monty Python Live (Mostly)
  • Monty Python's The Meaning of Live
  • Morecambe and Wise in America
  • Murder on the Blackpool Express
  • My Favourite Sketch
  • Newark, Newark
  • Porridge: Inside Out
  • The Rebel
  • Ricky and Ralf's Very Northern Road Trip
  • Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies
  • Royle Exclusive: Behind The Sofa
  • The Royle Family Portraits
  • Saluting Dad's Army
  • Sandylands
  • Sitcom Does...
  • Smashie's Christmastastic Playlist
  • The Story of...Only Fools and Horses
  • Telly Addict
  • Trust Morecambe and Wise
  • The Two Ronnies Spectacle
  • The Vicar of Dibley's 40 Greatest Moments
  • The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out
  • We Have Been Watching
  • When Were We Funniest?
  • Yes, Prime Minister: Re-Elected
  • You, Me & Them
  • The Young Ones 20 Greatest Moments

Previous edit

Programming of classic general entertainment and movies now unused or superseded on 7 October 2008. Some programmes that were shown on UKTV G2 moved to other channels sometime later when it was renamed Dave in October 2007. However, most of the classic comedy series includes re-runs of some BBC shows which are used only on this channel. Some of its classic general entertainment shows moved to other current UKTV channels such as Dave, Watch, and Alibi.

 

Other ventures edit

An analogue teletext service known as GoldText used to be available on the channel, but has since closed down.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Flextech Set To Acquire TCI Programming". Telecompaper. 21 December 1993. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  2. ^ "Flextech Reveals BBC, UK Gold Talks". Sat-net.com. 14 August 1996. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  3. ^ Horsman, Mathew (30 October 1996). "Flextech ties up pay-TV deal". The Independent. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Flextech Set To Agree Channels Deal With BBC". Telecompaper. 16 August 1996. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Flextech and BBC Discuss TV Venture". The New York Times. 15 August 1996. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  6. ^ "UKTV to rebrand all channels". Broadcast. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  7. ^ a b c "UKTV GOLD to invest millions in new comedies". British Comedy Guide. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. ^ "GOLD orders new Yes, Prime Minister series". British Comedy Guide. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. ^ "BBC - Worldwide Press Office - UKTV to close Play UK".
  10. ^ "UK Gold timeshift channel launches". Digital Spy. August 2002.
  11. ^ "UKTV launches Gold channel aimed at younger viewers".
  12. ^ a b c d Walker, Hayden. . TVARK: The Online Television Museum. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  13. ^ Oatts, Joanne (4 April 2007). "UKTV Gold bounces back with £10m new look". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 May 2013.

External links edit

  • Official website  

February 16, 2024
gold, british, channel, gold, british, television, channel, from, uktv, network, that, launched, late, 1992, gold, before, rebranded, uktv, gold, 2004, 2008, split, into, current, flagship, channel, gold, miscellaneous, channel, with, classic, comedy, based, p. Gold is a British pay television channel from the UKTV network that was launched in late 1992 as UK Gold before it was rebranded UKTV Gold in 2004 In 2008 it was split into current flagship channel Gold and miscellaneous channel W with classic comedy based programming now airing on Gold non crime drama and entertainment programming airing on W and quiz shows and more high brow comedy airing on Dave It shows repeats of classic programming from the BBC ITV and other broadcasters Every December from 2015 until 2018 the channel was temporarily renamed Christmas Gold This has since been discontinued although the channel still continues to broadcast Christmas comedy GoldLogo used from 2014 onwardsCountryUnited KingdomBroadcast areaUnited KingdomIrelandIsle of ManChannel IslandsProgrammingLanguage s EnglishPicture format1080i HDTV downscaled to 16 9 576i for the SDTV feed Timeshift serviceGold 1OwnershipOwnerBBC StudiosParentUKTVSister channelsAlibiDaveDramaEdenWYesterdayHistoryLaunched1 November 1992 31 years ago 1 November 1992 Former namesUK Gold 1992 2004 UKTV Gold 2004 2008 G O L D 2008 2010 LinksWebsitegold wbr uktv wbr co wbr ukAvailabilityStreaming mediaSky GoWatch live UK and Ireland only Now TVWatch live UK and Ireland only TVPlayerWatch live UK only TalkTalk TVWatch live UK only Contents 1 History 1 1 UKTV 1 2 2008 rebrand 1 3 2012 programming investment 1 4 Digital terrestrial 2 Subsidiary channels 2 1 Gold 1 2 2 UK Gold Classics UK Gold 2 2 3 Gold HD 3 On air identity 4 Programming 4 1 Currently made for GOLD UKTV Originals 4 2 Previous 5 Other ventures 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory edit nbsp Gold logo from 2012 to 2014The channel was formed as a joint venture between the BBC through commercial arm BBC Enterprises American company Cox Enterprises and outgoing ITV London weekday franchisee Thames Television known as European Channel Management The channel named UK Gold was to show repeats of the classic archive programming from the two broadcasters The channel launched on 1 November 1992 at 7pm with Just Good Friends The first commercial shown on the channel was for Lucozade and all commercials shown in the first three breaks on the channel s launch night either had the word gold or golden in either the name of the brand advertised or mentioned in the commercial itself The rights to the BBC programmes previously were held by the BSB entertainment channel Galaxy prior to the merger with Sky Television to form BSkyB in November 1990 The channel was initially broadcast on an analogue transponder from an SES satellite at 19 2 E which was less well suited for UK reception As a result the channel used to be notorious for being marred with interference known as sparklies in large parts of the UK Another initial drawback was the cutting of programming down to fit commercial time slots and the intensive use of commercial breaks Reception improved however with the channel added to BSkyB s basic subscription package in 1993 and the launch of the channel on cable services In 1993 Flextech gained its first stake in the station after acquiring Tele Communications Inc s TV interests in Europe 1 In 1996 it started discussions about increasing its stake to gain full control At that point Flextech held 27 with Cox 38 BBC 20 and Pearson 15 2 By the Autumn Flextech held 80 of UK Gold 3 4 Flextech s main reason for increasing its stake in UK Gold was in participation of new talks with the BBC 5 UKTV edit The channel s success led to the launch of the UKTV network on 1 November 1997 owned by BBC Worldwide and Flextech and consisting of three other channels UK Arena UK Horizons and UK Style focusing on the arts factual and lifestyle programmes respectively The UKTV network would expand to include numerous more channels as the years progressed The UK Gold brand was expanded in October 1998 with the launch of the digital only channel UK Gold Classics broadcasting some of the older comedy serials that were being lost from the UK Gold schedule as the channel moved towards more modern programming UK Gold Classics was not to last however and was rebranded as UK Gold 2 on 2 April 1999 which acted as a time shift of the original channel showing the daytime programmes from UK Gold in the evening on UK Gold 2 In 2003 however UK Gold 2 was rebranded and repositioned as UK G2 with some programming transferring to the new channel nbsp UKTV Gold share of viewing BARB figures 1992 2007On 8 March 2004 the channel was rebranded as UKTV Gold in line with the other channels in the UKTV network At approximately the same time Granada run archive channel Granada Plus closed to make way for ITV3 The channels had always been the main rivals to Gold due to the direct mix of archive BBC and ITV programming ITV3 currently has a higher viewer share often put down to the fact that the terrestrial platform Freeview shows ITV3 but not Gold In late 2004 to show films produced in Hollywood in a marathon UKTV Gold temporarily changed its name to USTV Gold Gold began transmitting in widescreen on 31 January 2008 although some programmes made in 16 9 format were screened in the compromise 14 9 semi letterboxed ratio for a short while before the 16 9 format became standard later in the year The channel has been criticised by some particularly in recent years for featuring many recent programmes as opposed to classics as was the original concept with some shows appearing on the channel mere months or weeks after their first television broadcast 2008 rebrand edit In 2008 UKTV began a process of rebranding and expanding its channels removing UKTV from their name following the rebranding of UKTV G2 as Dave in October 2007 On 7 October 2008 UKTV Gold became G O L D exclusively showing comedy both old and new This is reflected by its new slogan which now represents Gold as a backronym Go On Laugh Daily 6 Unlike the complete name change for Dave the Gold name was retained as having a resonance with viewers The same day also saw the rebranding of UKTV Drama as Alibi and the launch of a new channel Watch In Spring 2010 the channel dropped the acronym and is now known simply as Gold In October 2011 Virgin Media owner of half of Gold and the rest of the UKTV network sold their share to Scripps Networks Interactive with the remaining half still retained by the BBC s commercial arm BBC Worldwide 2012 programming investment edit In February 2012 it was announced that UKTV was to invest millions into producing its own original shows According to the trade magazine Broadcast Gold has secured a budget running into double digit millions to create a raft of new comedy shows over the next two years The article went on to say the channel is looking to develop a mix of panel shows sketch shows sitcoms and comedy dramas This move meant that Gold would follow its sister Dave which has resurrected Red Dwarf and produced numerous different panel and entertainment series and BSkyB who have invested 600m into original comedy for Sky One and Sky Atlantic The first set of new series for Gold were broadcast in the latter half of 2012 7 UKTV executive Jane Rogers stated to Broadcast that the commissions would be high quality as they would need to sit confidently alongside classics such as Only Fools And Horses and The Vicar of Dibley She also added Gold is well entrenched in the UK s psyche as the home of national treasure comedies so we cannot afford to look cheap next to those programmes It s important that anything we order continues that love and feel but we don t want to look back we want a contemporary stamp on the channel Commissioning editor Sarah Fraser commented that there s never been a better time to invest in homegrown comedy Comedians are selling out arena tours being cast in the West End and on the big screen here and in the US 7 The first programme announced as part of the investment was a reboot of the BBC sitcom Yes Prime Minister to be based on the 2010 stage production and written by original writers Sir Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn The reboot was the second classic BBC sitcom to be resurrected by a UKTV network following the two Dave commissioned series of Red Dwarf 8 News about other new commissions for the channel were announced during the summer 7 Digital terrestrial edit The channel was removed from Digital Terrestrial in 2013 along with Home as part of the closure of Top Up TV and was replaced with Drama in July 2013 However Home relaunched on the platform in March 2016 Gold and Home were not available to watch on Freeview boxes and televisions due to them being encrypted as subscription channels on Top Up TV Subsidiary channels editGold 1 edit Alongside the main channel a time shift channel is also operated Gold 1 Corresponding to the name on the main channel shows all programming from the channel one hour later The channel was originally announced by UKTV on 30 June 2002 under the name of UK Gold 1 9 later launching on Sky on 1 August 2002 As with its then sister UK Gold 2 it only initially broadcast in the evening at 7pm 7am 10 By 12 November 2003 the channel gained a full 24 hour slot and later went under the names of UKTV Gold 1 and G O L D 1 before gaining its current name in 2010 UK Gold Classics UK Gold 2 edit Main article Dave TV channel UK Gold Classics originally launched on 2 October 1998 to coincide with the launch of Sky Digital It was UKTV s first digital exclusive network The channel initially focused on older programs while the main UK Gold began focusing more on newer programmes The channel also only broadcast within the evening airing from 6 00 pm to 2 00 am every day UK Gold Classics only lasted six months with the channel closing on 28 March 1999 and from 2 April 1999 the channel was relaunched as UK Gold 2 becoming a secondary timeshift service that broadcast UK Gold s daytime schedule in the evening On 29 October 2003 UKTV announced that UK Gold 2 would be relaunched as UK G2 on 12 November being reinvented as a younger oriented edgier youth network aimed towards a 16 34 year old demographic 11 Gold HD edit A HD version of Gold was launched on 2 October 2017 exclusively to Sky replacing Eden HD on the platform Gold HD was added to Virgin Media on 25 September 2018 replacing Gold in standard definition It was added to BT TV on 11 March 2019 along with Vice HD On air identity edit nbsp Goldie the UK Gold dog used from 1992 to 1993For the first few years idents on UK Gold featured an animated golden retriever mascot named Goldie posing with the UK Gold logo Goldie was never name checked as such on air possibly owing to the death of the Blue Peter dog Goldie some weeks before launch although the late night music video slot Dog House was originally listed as Goldie s Video Bites in initial pre launch listings The Goldie idents were kept until 1993 when they were replaced with a form up of the first logo against a blue background A rebranding in 1994 saw UK Gold adopt idents based on the forging of gold bars with the station s logo appearing to have been stamped into gold Variations on this theme were used until 1997 when the channel received a revamp as part of the formation of the UKTV network 12 nbsp A holding slide for the television programme Keeping Up Appearances which demonstrates the 1997 1999 corporate styleThe new network s corporate identity saw all its channels logos simplified to a boxed UK followed by the name e g Gold in the Gill Sans font which had also been adopted by the BBC The new network wide ident theme would involve the splitting of the screen for different purposes UK Gold s new idents depicted objects such as apples or leaves falling through the top half of the screen with only the gold coloured ones reaching the bottom half of the screen These idents were briefly adopted for UK Gold 2 when it launched in 1998 12 The theme changed again this time with idents featuring fireworks making shapes in the air was launched in April 1999 The fireworks theme was carried on in a new set of idents alongside another network wide rebranding of the logo in 2002 adopting a bolder font and merging UK into a single composite character A range of live action idents showing everyday activities from unusual perspectives appeared in 2002 The 2003 to 2007 idents showed channel hopping viewers with their TV set off stage being brought to a halt by the appearance of a golden light accompanied by the channel s ident jingle This new identity also featured a series of shifting yellow orange and red blocks which suggested a gold bar at the centre of the screen 12 On 4 April 2007 UKTV Gold unveiled a new on air identity centred around a branded golden space hopper playing to contemporary trends toward 1970s nostalgia and emphasising the station s re run content Twelve new live action idents featured the branded space hopper either with people on them bouncing around normally serious scenes or let loose to bounce around the natural environment aired from 5 April 2007 to 7 October 2008 13 On 7 October 2008 following the rebranding Gold s 2008 presentation debuted featuring cartoon objects making a giant chain in Heath Robinson fashion which triggers an event to herald the next programme The Gold logo features in the centre with the channel slogan usually appearing alongside in the sequence Programmes are announced by sole channel continuity announcer David Flynn who has had the position since June 2009 12 In 2012 the logo was changed slightly with an updated ident package These followed a similar style to the previous set but instead of the previous backronym the idents focussed on the slogan of Stick Something Funny On In July 2014 Gold rebranded after two years in its second identity The logo is a ribbon with the letters GOLD The new idents have funny and wacky stuff happening such as dancing legs At the end of the idents the ribbon comes out saying GOLD while the activity behind it is still going Programming edit2point4 Children Absolutely Fabulous All Round to Mrs Brown s Are You Being Served Blackadder Bottom Chef Citizen Khan Dad s Army Desmond s dinnerladies Ever Decreasing Circles The Fast Show Fawlty Towers French and Saunders Game On Gavin amp Stacey Ghosts The Good Life The Green Green Grass Harry Enfield and Chums Hi de Hi Hold the Sunset I m Alan Partridge Inside No 9 Keeping Up Appearances Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge Last of the Summer Wine Live at the Apollo Men Behaving Badly Michael McIntyre s Comedy Roadshow Morgana Robinson s The Agency Mrs Brown s Boys My Hero Not Going Out The Office Only Fools and Horses Open All Hours Porridge Rock amp Chips Roger amp Val Have Just Got In The Royle Family Still Open All Hours The Thin Blue Line This Time with Alan Partridge Two Doors Down Upstart Crow The Vicar of Dibley Wallace amp Gromit You Rang M Lord The Young Ones Currently made for GOLD UKTV Originals edit 5 Minute Mayhem 30 Years of The Comic Strip Presents Alison amp Larry Billericay To Barry Billy Connolly Does Blackadder Exclusive The Whole Rotten Saga Blackadder s Most Cunning Moments Blackadder The Lost Pilot Bob Monkhouse The Million Joke Man Bottom Exposed Bring Me Morecambe amp Wise Britain s Greatest Comedian Britain s Greatest Comedy Character Bull The Cockfields Dad s Army The Animations Dad s Army The Lost Episodes David Jason My Life On Screen David Jason Planes Trains and Automobiles dinnerladies diaries Do Not Disturb The Fast Show Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases The Fast Show More Blooming Catchphrases Fawlty Towers Re Opened Fawlty Towers Basil s Best Bits French And Saunders Funny Women Fry And Laurie Reunited Hancock Very Nearly An Armful Henry IX How The Young Ones Changed Comedy The Interviews Jo Brand s Great Wall of Comedy Legends of Stand up And Bernard Righton Lenny Henry s Race Through Comedy Marley s Ghosts Monty Python s Best Bits Mostly Monty Python Live Mostly Monty Python s The Meaning of Live Morecambe and Wise in America Murder on the Blackpool Express My Favourite Sketch Newark Newark Porridge Inside Out The Rebel Ricky and Ralf s Very Northern Road Trip Richard E Grant on Ealing Comedies Royle Exclusive Behind The Sofa The Royle Family Portraits Saluting Dad s Army Sandylands Sitcom Does Smashie s Christmastastic Playlist The Story of Only Fools and Horses Telly Addict Trust Morecambe and Wise The Two Ronnies Spectacle The Vicar of Dibley s 40 Greatest Moments The Vicar of Dibley Inside Out We Have Been Watching When Were We Funniest Yes Prime Minister Re Elected You Me amp Them The Young Ones 20 Greatest Moments Previous edit Programming of classic general entertainment and movies now unused or superseded on 7 October 2008 Some programmes that were shown on UKTV G2 moved to other channels sometime later when it was renamed Dave in October 2007 However most of the classic comedy series includes re runs of some BBC shows which are used only on this channel Some of its classic general entertainment shows moved to other current UKTV channels such as Dave Watch and Alibi The 10th Kingdom 15 Storeys High 100 Years of Horror The A Team According to Jim The Adventures of Jeffrey After Henry After The Show After You ve Gone The Afternoon Play Agatha Christie s Poirot now on ITV3 Aim Low The Best of Dylan Moran Airport Alas Smith and Jones Alan Davies As Yet Untitled now on Dave Alexei Sayle s Stuff Alistair McGowan s Big Impression All About Me All Creatures Great and Small now on Drama All Gas and Gaiters Allo Allo now on Drama And Mother Makes Three And Mother Makes Five Angels Animal Capers Animal Park Anne of Avonlea Anyone for Pennis The Armando Iannucci Shows now on All 4 Ask the Family As Time Goes by now on Drama Auf Wiedersehen Pet now on Drama Backup Back to Life Ballet Shoes Ballykissangel Bangkok Hilton Baywatch Beast Beggar My Neighbour Bellamy s People Ben Elton The Man from Auntie The Ben Elton Show Bergerac now on Drama The Best of Tommy Cooper The Best of Top of the Pops now on BBC Four Between the Lines Beverly Hills Teens Bewitched Big Break Big Deal Big School Big Train Billionaire Boy now on W The Bill now on Drama Bill Hicks Live Relentless Bill Hicks It s Just a Ride Bill Hicks One Night Stand Bill Hicks Revelations Bill Hicks Sane Man Birds of a Feather now on Drama A Bit of a Do A Bit of Fry amp Laurie Black Books now on All 4 Blake s 7 Blandings Blankety Blank now on Challenge The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff Bless This House now on ITV3 Blott on the Landscape Blue Peter Early Classics The Blue Planet now on Eden The Bob Monkhouse Show Bob Monkhouse On The Spot Bob s Full House Boomers Boon Bottom Live Bottom Live The Big Number Two Tour Bottom Live 3 Hooligan s Island Bottom Live 2001 An Arse Oddity Bottom Live 2003 Weapons Grade Y Fronts Tour The Boy in the Dress now on W Boys from the Blackstuff now on Drama Bravestarr Bread Bridget amp Eamon The Brittas Empire now on Drama The Brothers Brush Strokes now on Drama Bugs Bullseye now on Challenge Butterflies Button Moon Callan now on Talking Pictures TV Campion now on Drama Canned Carrott Capital City Captain Pugwash Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Carrie s War now on Drama Carrott Confidential Carrott s Lib Carry on Laughing Casualty now on Drama The Catherine Tate Show now on W Catherine Tate s Nan Celebrity Masterchef now on W Chambers Chancer The Changes Charlie s Angels now on Great TV Cheers now on Channel 4 Chelmsford 123 now on All 4 Chewing Gum now on All 4 The Chief Chigley The Chinese Detective Chocky Chorlton and the Wheelies The Chronicles of Narnia Citizen Smith Clarence The Cleaner Clocking Off now on Drama Coast The Colbys Colditz Colin s Sandwich Comedy Connections The Comedy Genius of John Sullivan Come Fly with Me The Comic Strip Presents Commercial Breakdown Comic Roots Common as Muck Coogan s Run Cool It Count Duckula Coupling Cowboys Cracker now on ITV3 Crapston Villas Creature Comforts Crime Traveller Crossroads Dallas Dalziel and Pascoe now on Drama Dancing with the Stars Danger Mouse Danger UXB now on Talking Pictures TV Dangerfield now on Drama The Darling Buds of May now on ITV3 Dave s One Night Stand David Copperfield The Day of the Triffids Dear John Defenders of the Earth Degrassi Junior High The Detectives Detectorists now on Drama The Dick Emery Show The District Nurse DIY SOS now on W Dr Terrible s House of Horrible Doctor Who Classic Series Doctors now on Drama Doomwatch Don t Wait Up Down to Earth Driving School The Duchess of Duke Street Due South now on Great TV Dungeons amp Dragons Duty Free Dynasty Dylan Moran Live What It Is Dylan Moran Yeah Yeah Yeah Live Early Doors EastEnders now on Drama Eddie Izzard Force Majeure Live Edge of Darkness Eldorado Elizabeth R The Equalizer Euromillions Boom Bang a Bang Executive Stress Every Second Counts Extras Extreme Makeover Home Edition Fairly Secret Army The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Family Affairs Family Fortunes now on Challenge Fantasy Island Father Dear Father Filthy Rich and Catflap The Firm First Born First of the Summer Wine The Flame Trees of Thika Flash Gordon The Flying Doctors For the Love of Ada now on Talking Pictures TV The Fosters The Fourth Arm Frank Stubbs Promotes Frankie Howerd The Lost Tapes French Fields Fresh Fields Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Full House Galaxy Rangers Gangsters Garth Marenghi s Darkplace now on All 4 The Generation Game The Generation Game Now amp Then UKTV Gold commission George and Mildred now on ITV3 Get Some In now on Talking Pictures TV Getting On The Gingerbread Girl The Girl in the Cafe Give Us a Clue Going for Gold Going Straight Gold Goes Pop UK Gold commission The Good Old Days The Goodies Goodness Gracious Me Goodnight Sweetheart now on London Live Grace and Favour Grange Hill Early Classics The Greatest Christmas Comedy Moments UKTV Gold commission Green Wing now on All 4 Hamish Macbeth now on Drama Hancock s Half Hour Hannay now on Talking Pictures TV Happy Days Happy Ever After Happy Families Harbour Lights Harry amp Paul Harry Hill s TV Burp Hattie now on Drama Have I Got News for You Early Classics Hazell Heartbeat now on ITV3 Hearts and Bones Hebburn The Hello Girls Heroes of Comedy Hetty Wainthropp Investigates High amp Dry Hippies The Hitchhiker s Guide to the Galaxy Holby City Early Classics now on Drama Holocaust Holy Flying Circus Home to Roost Hope and Glory A Horseman Riding By Hotel The House of Eliott now on Drama House of Fools Howards Way now on Drama Human Remains I Claudius I Didn t Know You Cared I Dream of Jeannie The Imaginatively Titled Punt amp Dennis Show The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm In Concert In Justice In Loving Memory In Sickness and in Health In the Line of Duty The F B I Murders The Innes Book of Records Inspector Morse now on ITV3 Ironside now on ITV4 It Ain t Half Hot Mum It Wouldn t be Christmas Without Top 10 UKTV Gold commission It s a Knockout It s Ulrika Ivanhoe Jack Dee s Happy Hour Jack the Ripper Jam Jam amp Jerusalem Jamie amp the Magic Torch The Jasper Carrott Trial Jeeves and Wooster Jem Jim ll Fix It Strikes Again UKTV Gold commission Joe 90 John Bishop s Christmas Show Jonathan Creek now on Drama Josh Juliet Bravo Just a Minute now on Drama Just Good Friends now on Drama Keeping Mum Keep It in the Family Ken Dodd s World of Laughter The Kenny Everett Television Show The Kenny Everett Video Show A Kick Up the Eighties Kinsey Kiss Me Kate The Kit Curran Radio Show Knots Landing Kojak now on ITV4 The Kumars at No 42 KYTV Lassie Laurel and Hardy Lazarus amp Dingwall Lead Balloon The League of Gentlemen Legacy of Murder The Lenny Henry Show Let Them Eat Cake A Life of Grime The Life of Rock with Brian Pern Life Support Life Without George Life s Too Short Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous The Likely Lads Like It or Lump It Like Totally Dylan Moran Live Limmy s Show Linda Green now on Drama The Little and Large Show Little Britain Little Britain USA Live at Jongleurs UK Gold commission The Liver Birds Lizzie and Sarah Lois amp Clark The New Adventures of Superman London s Burning now on London Live The Lotus Eaters Lovejoy now on Drama Love Thy Neighbour Lucky Feller Lytton s Diary now on Talking Pictures TV MacKenzie Mad About Alice Made in Britain The Magnificent Evans Magnum P I now on ITV4 Maid Marian and Her Merry Men Maisie Raine now on Drama Man About the House now on ITV3 A Many Splintered Thing Marion and Geoff The Mary Whitehouse Experience Mastermind Early Classics Match of the Day Early Classics May to December now on Drama Meantime The Men s Room Merseybeat now on Drama Miami Vice Middlemarch now on Drama Minder now on ITV4 Miranda now on W Miss Marple now on Drama The Missing Postman The Mistress Monarch of the Glen now on Drama Monty Python s Flying Circus Monty Python Before The Flying Circus Monty Python Live at Aspen Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl Moon and Son The Morecambe amp Wise Show Morecambe and Wise The Greatest Moment UKTV Gold commission The Morph Files Mother Love Murder Most Horrid Murder She Wrote now on Great TV The Mrs Bradley Mysteries now on Alibi My Family now on W My Family and Other Animals Naked Video Nanny Nathan Barley now on All 4 Neighbours Early Classics Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width Never the Twain now on ITV3 The New Avengers now on Great TV The New Adventures of Old Christine The New Statesman now on London Live New Tricks now on Drama Newman and Baddiel in Pieces Nice Work Nighty Night No Place Like Home Not the Nine O Clock News Nurse NYPD Blue Odd Man Out Odd One Out Office Gossip Oh Brother Oh Doctor Beeching Oh No It s Selwyn Froggitt The Old Guys Oliver Twist The Omid Djalili Show One by One One Foot in the Grave now on Drama The One Ronnie The Onedin Line now on Talking Pictures TV Only Fools and Horses Greatest Moments UKTV Gold commission Only When I Laugh now on ITV4 On the Buses now on ITV3 Operation Good Guys Oppenheimer Outnumbered now on W OWL TV The Pallisers The Paradise Club Parkinson Parrot Sketch Not Included 20 Years of Monty Python Paul Daniels Quick Trick Pauline Calf s Wedding Video Peak Practice now on Drama Peep Show now on All 4 Perry Mason Penmarric Pib and Pog Pie in the Sky now on Drama The Piglet Files The Pink Panther Show Planet Earth now on Eden Playing the Field Please Sir Poldark Police Squad Popeye Porterhouse Blue Pramface Pride and Prejudice now on Drama Prime Suspect Prison Break Prisoner Private Schulz The Professionals now on ITV4 Professor Branestawm Returns Psychoville Pulling QI now on Dave Quantum Leap A Question of Sport Rab C Nesbitt Rainbow The Real McCoy Real Women Record Breakers Red Dwarf now on Dave Rentaghost Rev Rex the Runt Rhoda Riders Rings on Their Fingers Ripping Yarns Rising Damp now on ITV3 Rob Brydon Live Robbie the Reindeer Robin Hood Robin of Sherwood now on ITV4 Robin s Nest now on Talking Pictures TV Rock Goes to College Rock Profile The Rockford Files Rockliffe Room 101 series 1 3 The Rory Bremner Show Rosie Rowan Atkinson Live Rowland Rivron Bites The Bullet UK Gold commission Ruby Wax Meets Rude Dog and the Dweebs Rumpole of the Bailey now on Talking Pictures TV The Russ Abbot Show Rutland Weekend Television Sapphire amp Steel now on London Live Saxondale The Scold s Bridle Scotch and Wry Screen One The Sculptress Seaside Rescue Secret Army now on Talking Pictures TV The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole The Secret Garden Selwyn A Sense of Guilt Seven of One Shadows of the Heart Shark Sharon and Elsie Sharpe now on Drama A Sharp Intake of Breath Shelley Shoestring Shooting Stars Shut That Door Silent Witness now on Drama The Sitcom Showdown UKTV Gold commission The Six Wives of Henry VIII Sleepers Slinger s Day Smack the Pony now on All 4 The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer Snuff Box So What Now Soldier Soldier Solo Some Mothers Do Ave Em Sons and Daughters Sorry South of the Border Spaced now on All 4 Spender Spitting Image Sports Anorak of the Year UK Gold commission Stag Stand Up With Alan Davies Stargate SG 1 now on Sky One Stark Stars in Their Eyes Starstruck Classics UK Gold commission Stay Lucky Stella Street Steptoe and Son Steve Coogan The Inside Story Steve Coogan Live N Lewd Steve Coogan The Man Who Thinks He s it Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters Live Stewart Lee s Comedy Vehicle Stingray The Story of Dibley Streets Apart The Sullivans Sunburn now on Drama Survivors The Sweeney now on ITV4 Sykes Taggart now on Drama Take a Letter Mr Jones now on Talking Pictures TV Tales of the Unexpected now on Sky Arts Tears Before Bedtime Tenko now on Drama Telford s Change Tellystack UK Gold commission Terry and June That Mitchell and Webb Look That s Showbusiness Then Churchill Said to Me UK Gold commission The Thick of It Thin Air This Life now on Drama The Thoughts of Chairman Alf Thunderbirds now on Talking Pictures TV Three of a Kind Three Up Two Down Till Death Us Do Part Time Trumpet The Tommy Cooper Hour The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon To Serve Them All My Days To the Manor Born Traffic Cops Triangle A Tribute To Bruce Forsyth The Tripods The Trip Tripper s Day TV Now and Then UK Gold commission Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps now on BBC Three The Two Ronnies The Two Ronnies Sketchbook The Upchat Line Van der Valk now on Talking Pictures TV Vanity Fair A Very Peculiar Practice Vic Reeves Big Night Out Victoria Wood As Seen on TV Victoria Wood Presents Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings Victoria Wood s Mid Life Christmas Visionaries Knights of the Magical Light Waiting for God now on Drama Waking the Dead now on Alibi Walking with Dinosaurs Walliams amp Friend Waterloo Road Way to Go The Weakest Link now on Challenge We Love the Royle Family We re Doomed The Dad s Army Story Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads now on Drama When the Boat Comes In now on Drama Where the Heart Is now on Drama Who Do You Think You Are Whoops Baghdad Wild West Wogan Now and Then UK Gold commission A Woman of Substance A Word with Alf UK Gold commission The Worst Week of My Life Worzel Gummidge The Wrong Mans Wuthering Heights Yes Minister You Bet You Must Be the Husband You re Only Young Twice Other ventures editAn analogue teletext service known as GoldText used to be available on the channel but has since closed down See also editUKTV Television in the United Kingdom BBC WorldwideReferences edit Flextech Set To Acquire TCI Programming Telecompaper 21 December 1993 Retrieved 5 May 2013 Flextech Reveals BBC UK Gold Talks Sat net com 14 August 1996 Retrieved 5 May 2013 Horsman Mathew 30 October 1996 Flextech ties up pay TV deal The Independent Retrieved 5 May 2013 Flextech Set To Agree Channels Deal With BBC Telecompaper 16 August 1996 Retrieved 5 May 2013 Flextech and BBC Discuss TV Venture The New York Times 15 August 1996 Retrieved 5 May 2013 UKTV to rebrand all channels Broadcast 12 June 2008 Retrieved 13 June 2008 a b c UKTV GOLD to invest millions in new comedies British Comedy Guide 16 February 2012 Retrieved 5 May 2013 GOLD orders new Yes Prime Minister series British Comedy Guide 29 March 2012 Retrieved 5 May 2013 BBC Worldwide Press Office UKTV to close Play UK UK Gold timeshift channel launches Digital Spy August 2002 UKTV launches Gold channel aimed at younger viewers a b c d Walker Hayden UK Gold TVARK The Online Television Museum Archived from the original on 19 February 2012 Retrieved 23 October 2011 Oatts Joanne 4 April 2007 UKTV Gold bounces back with 10m new look Digital Spy Retrieved 5 May 2013 External links editOfficial website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gold British TV channel amp oldid 1206610960, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.