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Virign 1 "will be a showcase for cable" and already has the "entire Star Trek franchise".
Published on by Brian Butterworth on UK Free TV In the autumn, "Virgin 1" will replace FTN on Freeview from 6pm-6am until more bandwidth can be found (perhaps displacing part Virgin-owned UKTV Bright Ideas), and 24 hours on cable and satellite (after discussions with Sky).
The channel will spend 40m per year on general entertainment programmes, a mixture of commissioned, acquired and archive.
Broadcastnow.co.uk claims that Virgin "acknowledges the huge opportunities that exist around Freeview" in particular to showcase premium cable content and cable, non-linear "previews, catch-ups and extra footage" that the cable version and website of "Virgin 1" will have.
So what will it show?
From the US, Terminator offshoot The Sarah Connor Chronicles and all 624 hours of the Star Trek franchise.
Two Virgin TV commissioned programmes are now in pre-production for the channel: The Leo Houlding Project, rock-climbing adrenaline-fuelled journey and The Real Exorcist, where a Reverend Bob, rids Americans of their demons.
"According to our research, men are underserved by Freeview, so the channel will have a male inflection to it. That said, it is not a new Bravo and all shows will have elements that will attract women." WMTV boss Jonny Webb told Broadcast.
The channel's Virgin name took months of extra negotiations.
So, it would make sense to get rid of UKTV Bright ideas (0.1% share, peak 0.2%) and (0.3% share, peak 0.4%) ... the channel to beat is Sky One's 1.2% and Sky Three's 0.8%?
"From the US, Terminator offshoot The Sarah Connor Chronicles and all 624 hours of the Star Trek franchise.Two Virgin TV commissioned programmes are now in pre-production for the channel: The Leo Houlding Project, rock-climbing adrenaline-fuelled journey and The Real Exorcist, where a Reverend Bob, rids Americans of their demons."
Ian: Better new commissioned programmes about fat guys going rock climbing and taking the piss out of foolish Yanks than repeats of the Krypton Factor from decades ago, surely?
Can't virgin just purchase one of the +1 channels from ITV/CH4 which are a load of wasted space? This would mean they would run a 24hr free to air national service attracting more advertisers and rivaling Sky One more.
I don't see that there would be much of a problem if instead they got rid of UKTV Bright Ideas and FTN who's viewing figures are appaling and almost as bigger waste of space as the +1 channels.
Richard: One company can't FORCE another to hand over things they have bought... that's not the way of the market. Given that BSkyB owns almost 20% of ITV, it seems unlikely that ITV will put the space up for sale (they want it for their own services) and Channel 4 has already announced that it's plus one services will change to a 24-hour music channel.
UKTV is only joint because it would have people asking why the BBC needs the TV Licence if they can have commerical channels too which is why they had a partner ;)
Ps that article only says they "refused to confirm"
Defiant: It was the Tory government that insisted that the BBC could not invest in such services, and insisted that they could not be provided free with the licence fee.. It had nothing to do with "people asking" anything! As for your PS, you are correct, "refused to confirm" is right. They are the company who are claimed to be involved so they are the source for a story. It's easy to repeat an Internet rumour.. but not helpful or professional, I feel.
Brain the BBC does provide UKTV BI & UKTV History FREE although of course subsidised by the TV Licence just like most of the shows on the BBC Worldchannels. You seem very friendly when it comes to the BBC and the BBC TV Licence fee!
Defiant: No, it does not - UKTV provides the services. UKTV buys the archive programmes from the BBC, it is UKTV that is the licenced broadcaster. The licence fee is an very efficient and effective way of maintaining the fantastic television and radio services we have in the UK. Why not be proud of something that is a real success?
UKTV gets the shows on the cheap like Touchwood going to BBC America on the cheap instead the highest bidder getting the show. That's how the BBC builds it's empire at the expense of the UK TV Licence payer.
Anyway I'm glad you like the BBC TV Licence after all you get a good deal having millions of people forced to subsidise your entertainment but please your "fantastic television" comment is an opinion which isn't held by the majority so please don't pass off your opinion as fact!
I hope others reading this have taken noticed of the bia............
Mark Aberfan Aerials Tuesday 4 September 2007 2:19PM
Hi,The bbc returns profits from bbc america / bbc prime back into production of new programs for the benefit of the licence payer so i cant see a conflict of interest here. Mark Aberfan Aerials
Those profits would be more if they sold the TV Licence funded shows to the highest bidder plus alot of the profits gets put back into BBC worldwide to keep on expanding. The sooner the fans of the BBC pay their own way the better so others can get a choice
Mark Aberfan Aerials: To the tune of £89m per year - one radio channels worth! This was an increase of 62% on the year before. BBC Worldwide is a management plaything for the BBC, it has never made any money for the corporation, it's just a royalties engine for superannuated luvvies. BBC Worldwide - This includes UK and internation sales including formats and also the Radio Times.
Mark Aberfan Aerials Tuesday 4 September 2007 7:43PM
Hi, if bbc worldwide expands, so what ? as far as i can see it means more jobs in the uk & more revenue coming back to the bbc by selling to more markets ! expats gain access to a taste of home & others who want the bbc output are also willing to pay i thought that the bbc sold torchwood to the sci-fi channel in the U.S.(but i could be mistaken !) i would also mention that the licence fee is also helping channel update to hd & is paying for the help scheme during the digital switchover ! Mark Aberfan Aerials.
Mark Aberfan Aerials: I have no problem with it expanding, but not if it just means paying again for things that I would have got free anyway... might as well just put up the TV licence and let everyone enjoy it. Last year was the first times in fifteen years that any decent money came in from Worldwide. And the money is £89m and the BBC total income is £4,177, so that's 2% - that would save you a whole £3 on your licence fee. Given that the government has already nicked £600m over the next few years to fund set-top boxes... BBC Annual Report Financial statements - it's such a drop in the ocean and it's certainly not going to fund all the domestic services and it's a bit arrogant to think the rest of the world a) wishes to pay to watch our programmes and b) should do so to pay for our telly...?
Mark Aberfan Aerials Tuesday 4 September 2007 9:38PM
Hi Brian , true enough mate ! I am happy with the service i get from the bbc & for the fee i pay ! Things could always be better but i believe that the licence fee is the best way to protect standards & provide a reliable tv service for the masses. im not against commercial tv services but i think the bbc give solid good quality service, take the cbeebieschannel my grandson can watch these channels that educate him entertain him all without trashy american programing & adverts for £80 toys!& at a time when itv due to commercial reasons is withdrawing from making childrens programming !. Mark Aberfan Aerials
obizzle: Given that The Simpsons is produced by Fox Television in the USA, which is part of News Corporation, which also owns a large part of Sky, this is somewhat unlikley.
06:17
on UK Free TV
BBC Worldwide - This includes UK and internation sales including formats and also the Radio Times.
BBC Annual Report Financial statements - it's such a drop in the ocean and it's certainly not going to fund all the domestic services and it's a bit arrogant to think the rest of the world a) wishes to pay to watch our programmes and b) should do so to pay for our telly...?
