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Wikipedia

W (British TV channel)

February 16, 2024

W is a British free-to-air television channel owned by BBC Studios. It originally launched on 7 October 2008 as Watch and until 2022 was a pay television channel.[1] On 15 February 2016, the channel was rebranded as W.[2] The channel currently broadcasts crimes, dramas, game shows and documentaries.

W
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom and Ireland
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(SDTV feed downscaled to 16:9 576i)
Timeshift serviceW +1
Ownership
OwnerBBC Studios
ParentUKTV
Sister channelsAlibi
Dave
Drama
Eden
Gold
Yesterday
History
Launched7 October 2008; 15 years ago (2008-10-07)
ReplacedUKTV Style +2
UKTV Gold +1
Drama +1
Former namesWatch (2008–2016)
Links
Websiteuktvplay.co.uk/channel/w
Availability
Terrestrial
FreeviewChannel 25
Streaming media
Sky GoWatch live (UK and Ireland only)
Virgin TVWatch live (UK only)
TalkTalk TVWatch live (UK only)

History edit

The channel launched on 7 October 2008 as the new flagship channel for the UKTV network of channels. On Sky, it took over capacity previously used for UKTV Style +2, which had closed on 15 September 2008 in preparation for the launch. The channel would feature general entertainment programmes, primarily from the programme archive of the BBC, who owned a 50% share of the network through the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide. The channel featured flagship programmes from the BBC, such as Torchwood, general entertainment programmes from the corporation and international versions of popular current British programming, such as Dancing with the Stars (the US version of Strictly Come Dancing) and the various American editions of Wipeout, which is titled as Total Wipeout USA to avert confusion with the British programme of the same name. The channel also featured programmes displaced following the repositioning of other UKTV channels, such as the move of all non-crime drama to the channel following Alibi's launch, and programming already shown on other UKTV channels in greater numbers, such as Traffic Cops. The W Channel controller is currently Paul Moreton.[3]

The channel went free on satellite on 21 March 2022, ahead of a full relaunch of W as a free channel on both Freeview and Freesat on a week later on 28 March, with a revised onscreen identity.[4][5] To make way for the addition of W, Dave ja vu moved to the position previously occupied by Drama +1,[6] which had been added to the Freeview lineup following UKTV's purchase and closure of CCXTV. Drama +1 wasn't replaced on Freeview in the sense of leaving the platform instead it moved to Freeview channel 60 which was previously occupied by ITV4 +1.

Subsidiary channels edit

W +1 edit

The channel also operates a timeshift service, W +1 (short for the previous name as Watch +1), where the programme schedule is repeated by the channel one hour later. The channel receives no special branding, with the occasional exception of a special Digital on-screen graphic (DOG). It launched the same day as the main Watch channel on 7 October 2008 and was reported by AGB Nielsen Media Research on 2 September 2008.

W HD edit

On 29 July 2011, UKTV announced that it had secured a deal with Sky to launch three more high-definition channels on their platform. As part of Virgin Media's deal to sell its share of UKTV, all five of UKTV's HD channels would also be added to Virgin's cable television service by 2012. Watch HD launched on 12 October 2011 on Sky and Virgin Media, two days after Dave HD, while Alibi HD launched in July 2012. All three channels are HD simulcasts of the standard-definition channels.[7][8][9] Watch HD became available on BT TV & Plusnet later in the year.

On-air identity edit

2008–2016 edit

When Watch launched in October 2008, along with G.O.L.D. and Alibi, the original on screen identity featured a large eyeball nicknamed 'Blinky'. The music used in the background of the television advertisements is "You Will Leave a Mark" by Oxford band A Silent Film. The channels original idents featured a liveaction video of the eyeball being pushed around by a large and varied group of people around various settings until the eyeball ends up in the centre of the screen and the Watch name appears at the bottom of the screen. The set of four idents were produced by Red Bee Media for the channel. However, in April 2009, the four existing idents were edited by Aardman Animations to make the inflatable eyeball blink, along with new soundtracks. In addition, four new CGI idents were introduced as well as the edited idents and in May 2010, a new ident for Scream if You Know the Answer!

During May 2010, UKTV were reportedly planning to overhaul the brand identity of Watch, after only eighteen months in operation. The broadcaster held a branding agency pitch and made an appointment within a month, with the review was being handled by creativebrief. The work included the creation of a fresh logo, strap-line and tone of voice for the channel, however, a spokeswoman for UKTV denied suggestions that the broadcaster would change the name of the channel and said that the overhaul was about "tweaking the brand and aligning it better with our overall strategy".[10]

The new Watch logo and channel presentation launched on 23 September 2010, focusing on the idea that "TV is better shared!". The new identity, created by agency Harriman Steel, includes a new strapline, "Watch... together", along with new idents, end frames and a new logo. The idents feature a scene against a black background with various elements of the scene being provided, by people in black outfits. The scenes progress with the appearance of the film being seen in reverse until the ident pans to a screen displaying three phrases related to the scene ending with the word "together." before the Watch logo is placed over the last phrase forming the channel tagline. Other promotional material makes use of the channel tagline or the appearance that the channel promotions are held in place by the black dressed men, as seen by the various covered hands shown at the edge of promotion end boards.[11]

On 23 January 2012, it was announced that Watch would receive a rebrand for a second time, created by DixonBaxi, and was to be launched on 13 February 2012, but only the promos, DOG and ECP changed on that date.[12] But the new idents were made on 9 March 2012.

2016–2022 edit

On 15 January 2016, it was announced that Watch would be renamed to W on 15 February 2016.[13]

In February 2022, Broadcast magazine reported that the channel would become a free-to-air channel in the spring, joining stablemates Dave, Yesterday and Drama as a Freeview service.[14][15] In March 2022, this was confirmed by UKTV, who rebranded the channel's mantra to "Life Unfiltered"[16] and introduced a new logo[17] which included the letter W in a slanted rectangle. The logo will be mainly seen on air and in corporate branding with an orange background, with channel idents showing a series of relatable human moments behind the logo.[18] This female skewing channel will be still targeted at a 25 to 44 age range and will be on Freeview channel 25 from 28 March 2022. W have a free-to-air launch schedule with programmes such as Inside the Ambulance, Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Nurses on the Ward, Emma Willis Delivering Babies, Emma Willis & AJ Odudu Get to Work and Women on the Force, part of the line-up.[19]

2022–present edit

UKTV confirmed the rumours that the W channel was going to rebrand as a free-to-air channel on 28 March 2022 at 6:00am. To coincide with the move, channel bosses unveiled a new logo and "Life Unfiltered" strapline which they say will help the channel connect with its female skewing 25-44 target audience.[20]

Logo history edit

  •  
    First logo, 7 October 2008 until 23 September 2010
  •  
    Second logo, 23 September 2010 until 9 March 2012
  •  
    Third logo, 13 February 2012 until 15 February 2016
  •  
    Fourth logo, 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022
  •  
    Third HD logo, 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022
  •  
    Fourth +1 logo, 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022
  •  
    Fifth logo, 28 March 2022 – present
  •  
    Fourth HD logo, 28 March 2022 – present
  •  
    Fifth +1 logo, 28 March 2022 – present

Programming edit

Current programming edit

Former programming edit

The channel also produced and broadcast the programmes: Baywatch, Richard & Judy's New Position, The Borrowers, Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose, Hart of Dixie, The Weakest Link, Walking with..., Love Soup, Dancing with the Stars, Outtake TV, and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps for a time, however, these are no longer broadcast.

Most watched programmes edit

The following is a list of the 11 most watched shows on W, based on Live +7 data supplied by BARB up to 7 February 2016.[21] The number of viewers does not include repeats or W +1.

Rank Show Episode Viewers Date
1 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 2.01 1,927,000 5 July 2012
2 2.02 1,826,000 12 July 2012
3 2.03 1,793,000 19 July 2012
4 1.04 1,441,000 28 July 2011
5 1.02 1,391,000 14 July 2011
6= 1.03 1,384,000 21 July 2011
2.04 1,384,000 26 July 2012
8 Alcatraz 1.01 – Pilot 1,299,000 13 March 2012
9 1.06 – Paxton Petty 1,229,000 17 April 2012
10= 1.08 – The Ames Brothers 1,193,000 1 May 2012
Dynamo: Magician Impossible 3.01 1,193,000 11 July 2013

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "UKTV agrees on-demand, channels deal with BT Vision". Digital Spy. 22 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Watch rebrands to w". campampaignlive. 15 January 2016.
  3. ^ . Archived from the original on 12 July 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Changes to the Sky TV guide - March 2022". 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ Bowler, Hannah; The Drum, 2022-03-21
  6. ^ [Freeview EPG listings showing Dave ja vu programming on Drama +1 channel and W listings on existing Dave ja vu, from 12noon on 2022-03-28]
  7. ^ . UKTV. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Virgin Media sells £239m stake in UKTV!". Financial Times. 15 August 2011.
  9. ^ . Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  10. ^ "UKTV plans brand overhaul for Watch". Marketing. 18 May 2010.
  11. ^ "UKTV wants viewers to 'Watch... together'!". Marketing Week. 23 September 2010.
  12. ^ Clover, Julian (23 January 2012). "Rebrand for UKTV's Watch". Broadband TV News. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  13. ^ "UKTV reveals W: a premium entertainment channel". UKTV. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  14. ^ "W set for free-to-air switch".
  15. ^ "UKTV planning Freeview switch for 'W' channel". 16 February 2022.
  16. ^ "UKTV's W launches "Life Unfiltered" rebrand as the premium entertainment channel is taken free-to-air | News | UKTV Corporate Site".
  17. ^ "UKTV to make W channel free-to-air". 21 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Uktv Take W Free-To-Air with Channel Rebrand". 21 March 2022.
  19. ^ "UKTV expands W's reach by taking the premium entertainment channel free-to-air | News | UKTV Corporate Site".
  20. ^ "W is Free on TV | W Channel - Life Unfiltered". W is Free on TV. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  21. ^ BARB, via [1]

External links edit

  • Official website at TVA

February 16, 2024
british, channel, british, free, television, channel, owned, studios, originally, launched, october, 2008, watch, until, 2022, television, channel, february, 2016, channel, rebranded, channel, currently, broadcasts, crimes, dramas, game, shows, documentaries, . W is a British free to air television channel owned by BBC Studios It originally launched on 7 October 2008 as Watch and until 2022 was a pay television channel 1 On 15 February 2016 the channel was rebranded as W 2 The channel currently broadcasts crimes dramas game shows and documentaries WBroadcast areaUnited Kingdom and IrelandProgrammingLanguage s EnglishPicture format1080i HDTV SDTV feed downscaled to 16 9 576i Timeshift serviceW 1OwnershipOwnerBBC StudiosParentUKTVSister channelsAlibiDaveDramaEdenGoldYesterdayHistoryLaunched7 October 2008 15 years ago 2008 10 07 ReplacedUKTV Style 2UKTV Gold 1Drama 1Former namesWatch 2008 2016 LinksWebsiteuktvplay wbr co wbr uk wbr channel wbr wAvailabilityTerrestrialFreeviewChannel 25Streaming mediaSky GoWatch live UK and Ireland only Virgin TVWatch live UK only TalkTalk TVWatch live UK only Contents 1 History 2 Subsidiary channels 2 1 W 1 2 2 W HD 3 On air identity 3 1 2008 2016 3 2 2016 2022 3 3 2022 present 4 Logo history 5 Programming 5 1 Current programming 5 2 Former programming 5 3 Most watched programmes 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editThe channel launched on 7 October 2008 as the new flagship channel for the UKTV network of channels On Sky it took over capacity previously used for UKTV Style 2 which had closed on 15 September 2008 in preparation for the launch The channel would feature general entertainment programmes primarily from the programme archive of the BBC who owned a 50 share of the network through the corporation s commercial arm BBC Worldwide The channel featured flagship programmes from the BBC such as Torchwood general entertainment programmes from the corporation and international versions of popular current British programming such as Dancing with the Stars the US version of Strictly Come Dancing and the various American editions of Wipeout which is titled as Total Wipeout USA to avert confusion with the British programme of the same name The channel also featured programmes displaced following the repositioning of other UKTV channels such as the move of all non crime drama to the channel following Alibi s launch and programming already shown on other UKTV channels in greater numbers such as Traffic Cops The W Channel controller is currently Paul Moreton 3 The channel went free on satellite on 21 March 2022 ahead of a full relaunch of W as a free channel on both Freeview and Freesat on a week later on 28 March with a revised onscreen identity 4 5 To make way for the addition of W Dave ja vu moved to the position previously occupied by Drama 1 6 which had been added to the Freeview lineup following UKTV s purchase and closure of CCXTV Drama 1 wasn t replaced on Freeview in the sense of leaving the platform instead it moved to Freeview channel 60 which was previously occupied by ITV4 1 Subsidiary channels editW 1 edit The channel also operates a timeshift service W 1 short for the previous name as Watch 1 where the programme schedule is repeated by the channel one hour later The channel receives no special branding with the occasional exception of a special Digital on screen graphic DOG It launched the same day as the main Watch channel on 7 October 2008 and was reported by AGB Nielsen Media Research on 2 September 2008 W HD edit On 29 July 2011 UKTV announced that it had secured a deal with Sky to launch three more high definition channels on their platform As part of Virgin Media s deal to sell its share of UKTV all five of UKTV s HD channels would also be added to Virgin s cable television service by 2012 Watch HD launched on 12 October 2011 on Sky and Virgin Media two days after Dave HD while Alibi HD launched in July 2012 All three channels are HD simulcasts of the standard definition channels 7 8 9 Watch HD became available on BT TV amp Plusnet later in the year On air identity edit2008 2016 edit When Watch launched in October 2008 along with G O L D and Alibi the original on screen identity featured a large eyeball nicknamed Blinky The music used in the background of the television advertisements is You Will Leave a Mark by Oxford band A Silent Film The channels original idents featured a liveaction video of the eyeball being pushed around by a large and varied group of people around various settings until the eyeball ends up in the centre of the screen and the Watch name appears at the bottom of the screen The set of four idents were produced by Red Bee Media for the channel However in April 2009 the four existing idents were edited by Aardman Animations to make the inflatable eyeball blink along with new soundtracks In addition four new CGI idents were introduced as well as the edited idents and in May 2010 a new ident for Scream if You Know the Answer During May 2010 UKTV were reportedly planning to overhaul the brand identity of Watch after only eighteen months in operation The broadcaster held a branding agency pitch and made an appointment within a month with the review was being handled by creativebrief The work included the creation of a fresh logo strap line and tone of voice for the channel however a spokeswoman for UKTV denied suggestions that the broadcaster would change the name of the channel and said that the overhaul was about tweaking the brand and aligning it better with our overall strategy 10 The new Watch logo and channel presentation launched on 23 September 2010 focusing on the idea that TV is better shared The new identity created by agency Harriman Steel includes a new strapline Watch together along with new idents end frames and a new logo The idents feature a scene against a black background with various elements of the scene being provided by people in black outfits The scenes progress with the appearance of the film being seen in reverse until the ident pans to a screen displaying three phrases related to the scene ending with the word together before the Watch logo is placed over the last phrase forming the channel tagline Other promotional material makes use of the channel tagline or the appearance that the channel promotions are held in place by the black dressed men as seen by the various covered hands shown at the edge of promotion end boards 11 On 23 January 2012 it was announced that Watch would receive a rebrand for a second time created by DixonBaxi and was to be launched on 13 February 2012 but only the promos DOG and ECP changed on that date 12 But the new idents were made on 9 March 2012 2016 2022 edit On 15 January 2016 it was announced that Watch would be renamed to W on 15 February 2016 13 In February 2022 Broadcast magazine reported that the channel would become a free to air channel in the spring joining stablemates Dave Yesterday and Drama as a Freeview service 14 15 In March 2022 this was confirmed by UKTV who rebranded the channel s mantra to Life Unfiltered 16 and introduced a new logo 17 which included the letter W in a slanted rectangle The logo will be mainly seen on air and in corporate branding with an orange background with channel idents showing a series of relatable human moments behind the logo 18 This female skewing channel will be still targeted at a 25 to 44 age range and will be on Freeview channel 25 from 28 March 2022 W have a free to air launch schedule with programmes such as Inside the Ambulance Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over Nurses on the Ward Emma Willis Delivering Babies Emma Willis amp AJ Odudu Get to Work and Women on the Force part of the line up 19 2022 present edit UKTV confirmed the rumours that the W channel was going to rebrand as a free to air channel on 28 March 2022 at 6 00am To coincide with the move channel bosses unveiled a new logo and Life Unfiltered strapline which they say will help the channel connect with its female skewing 25 44 target audience 20 Logo history edit nbsp First logo 7 October 2008 until 23 September 2010 nbsp Second logo 23 September 2010 until 9 March 2012 nbsp Third logo 13 February 2012 until 15 February 2016 nbsp Fourth logo 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022 nbsp Third HD logo 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022 nbsp Fourth 1 logo 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022 nbsp Fifth logo 28 March 2022 present nbsp Fourth HD logo 28 March 2022 present nbsp Fifth 1 logo 28 March 2022 presentProgramming editCurrent programming edit 999 Rescue Squad American Housewife Beverly Hills Pawn The Bill Border Patrol Boston s Finest Booze Patrol Australia The Catherine Tate Show Celebrity Advice Bureau Celebrity Haunted Mansion Celebrity Haunted Mansion High Spirits Celebrity MasterChef Choccywoccydoodah Dating with My Mates David Beckham Into The Unknown Derren Brown DIY SOS Doctor Who Emma Willis Delivering Babies Emma Willis Meet the Babies Extreme Makeover Home Edition Gavin amp Stacey Heston s Fantastical Food Honey I Bought The House Humble Pie In the Club Inside the Ambulance I ve Got Something To Tell You John Bishop In Conversation With Jonathan Creek Luther Masterchef Australia MasterChef Junior USA MasterChef USA Million Dollar Intern The Musketeers My Dream Home My Family Myleene Miscarriage and Me Nev s Indian Call Centre Nick Knowles Original Features Nurses on the Ward Oddities One Born Every Minute Outnumbered Property Brothers Rochelle Humes Interior Designer in the Making Russell Howard s Good News Sea City Sherlock Stacey Dooley Investigates Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over The Secrets in My Family The Strain Supernanny Tipping Point Traffic Cops The Wave The Wedding Fixer W1A Who Do You Think You Are Who Do You Think You Are USA Women on the Verge Former programming edit Aaagh It s the Mr Hell Show Absolutely Fabulous After You ve Gone Alcatraz Atlantis Bailiffs Battlechefs Beauty amp the Beast Being Human Believe Ben Earl Trick Artist Best In Town Betty White s Off Their Rockers Bin There Dump That Blues and Twos The Blue Planet Border Patrol Bottom Cars Cops And Criminals Celebrity Haunted Hotel Live Celebrity Haunted Hotel Do Not Disturb Choccywoccydoodah Starstruck Code Black Criminal Minds Beyond Borders Crisis Coastguard Florida Confessions from the Underground Covert Affairs Dangerman The Incredible Mr Goodwin Daredevil David Attenborough s Natural Curiosities Dynamo Magician Impossible EastEnders Emergency Bikers Escape to the Country Fake or Fortune Flights amp Fights Inside The Low Cost Airlines Get Me to the Church Grange Hill Grimm The Hairy Bikers Cookbook Haunted Collector Haunted Highway Helicopter Heroes Hollywood Treasure The Honourable Woman Human Planet Iceland Foods Life in the Freezer Cabinet Jackpots And Jinxes Lottery Stories Katherine Mills Mind Games Kolkata with Sue Perkins The Men Who Jump Off Buildings My Breasts And I My Flat Pack Home My Hero Nigel Marven s Cruise Ship Adventure Paranormal Witness Perception Planet Dinosaur Planet Earth Pointless Pride and Prejudice Primeval New World Primeval Quantum Leap Recruits Paramedics Rescue Code One The Restoration Man Resurrection Rick Stein s Far Eastern Odyssey Road Patrol Australia The Route Masters Running London s Roads The Roux Scholarship 2013 Sara Cox on Friendship Secrets and Lies Seven Envelopes Silk Singing in the Rainforest Sky Cops Sophie on Fame Stacey Dooley in Australia Stansted The Inside Story Stranded Supersize My Job Undercover Boss Vets in Practice Vets to the Rescue World s Most Talented The World s Strictest Parents The channel also produced and broadcast the programmes Baywatch Richard amp Judy s New Position The Borrowers Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose Hart of Dixie The Weakest Link Walking with Love Soup Dancing with the Stars Outtake TV and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps for a time however these are no longer broadcast Most watched programmes edit The following is a list of the 11 most watched shows on W based on Live 7 data supplied by BARB up to 7 February 2016 21 The number of viewers does not include repeats or W 1 Rank Show Episode Viewers Date1 Dynamo Magician Impossible 2 01 1 927 000 5 July 20122 2 02 1 826 000 12 July 20123 2 03 1 793 000 19 July 20124 1 04 1 441 000 28 July 20115 1 02 1 391 000 14 July 20116 1 03 1 384 000 21 July 20112 04 1 384 000 26 July 20128 Alcatraz 1 01 Pilot 1 299 000 13 March 20129 1 06 Paxton Petty 1 229 000 17 April 201210 1 08 The Ames Brothers 1 193 000 1 May 2012Dynamo Magician Impossible 3 01 1 193 000 11 July 2013See also editUKTV Television in the United KingdomReferences edit UKTV agrees on demand channels deal with BT Vision Digital Spy 22 March 2012 Watch rebrands to w campampaignlive 15 January 2016 UKTV unveils new channel brands Archived from the original on 12 July 2008 Retrieved 10 July 2008 Changes to the Sky TV guide March 2022 28 February 2022 Bowler Hannah The Drum 2022 03 21 Freeview EPG listings showing Dave ja vu programming on Drama 1 channel and W listings on existing Dave ja vu from 12noon on 2022 03 28 UKTV enters VoD market with landmark HD content deal with Sky UKTV 29 July 2011 Archived from the original on 7 November 2011 Retrieved 29 July 2011 Virgin Media sells 239m stake in UKTV Financial Times 15 August 2011 Virgin TV just got even bigger Virgin Media Archived from the original on 11 October 2011 Retrieved 4 October 2011 UKTV plans brand overhaul for Watch Marketing 18 May 2010 UKTV wants viewers to Watch together Marketing Week 23 September 2010 Clover Julian 23 January 2012 Rebrand for UKTV s Watch Broadband TV News Retrieved 24 January 2012 UKTV reveals W a premium entertainment channel UKTV 15 January 2016 Retrieved 15 January 2016 W set for free to air switch UKTV planning Freeview switch for W channel 16 February 2022 UKTV s W launches Life Unfiltered rebrand as the premium entertainment channel is taken free to air News UKTV Corporate Site UKTV to make W channel free to air 21 March 2022 Uktv Take W Free To Air with Channel Rebrand 21 March 2022 UKTV expands W s reach by taking the premium entertainment channel free to air News UKTV Corporate Site W is Free on TV W Channel Life Unfiltered W is Free on TV Retrieved 27 March 2022 BARB via 1 External links editOfficial website at TVA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title W British TV channel amp oldid 1205962788, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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