.tv (TV channel)

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.tv
Launched	1 September 1996
Closed	2 September 2001
Owned by	British Sky Broadcasting
Country	United Kingdom
Formerly called	The Computer Channel
Availability At time of closure
Satellite
Analogue until 5 April 2000	Astra 1E, 10.847V
Sky Digital	Channel 567

For the country code top-level domain for Tuvalu, see .tv

.tv (Pronounced as 'Dot TV', referred to onscreen as .tv - the technology channel) was a British television channel dedicated to technology. .tv was owned and operated by British Sky Broadcasting. The channel began broadcasting on 1 September 1996 as The Computer Channel and broadcast between 6pm and 8pm. The broadcasting hours were increased to 12pm to 12am when The Computer Channel (by now .tv) started broadcasting on British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite platform, Sky Digital in 1998. In 1999 the channel interviewed then Microsoft, CEO Bill Gates.

Towards the end of its run, .tv implemented several new shows heavily sponsored by online technology store dabs.com, promoting products which were available at that site. .tv was closed on 2 September 2001 because of low audience ratings. Most of the programmes were produced by Prospect Pictures.

[edit] Programming

• Buyers Guide - 20 minute weekday show that reviewed gadgets (such as PDAs and printers), computers and software (such as computer games, operating systems and photo manipulation). Presented by Will Hanrahan.

• Chips with Everything - 20 minute weekday show presented by Kate Russell with guests trying to answer computer related questions that were sent in by viewers. Guests included Roger Gann, James Morris, Simon Smart and Nigel Whitfield.

• Ex Machina - 30 minute weekly show that went behind the scenes of digitally produced entertainment (computer games, films and television programmes).

• Games World - (later renamed Game Over) - variable-format videogame magazine show.

• Games republic - A question based video game quiz show, presented by Trevor and Simon.

• "404 Not Found" - An off beat news and reviews show with regular viewer letters and emails.

• Global Village - 30 minute weekly show that looked at how technology was revolutionising our homes from an international perspective.

• Masterclass - 20 minute weekday show that gave tutorials on how to use features from programs like Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop and Nero Burning ROM. For the majority of the run, the show was presented by Richard Topping, affectionately known as "Toppers." He left the show to pursue a successful career in writing. His replacement was comedian Marc Haynes, who fronted the show until the channel closed.

Buyers Guide, Masterclass and Chips with Everything were repeated as omnibus editions (the weekday editions broadcasted as one programme) on weekends.

[edit] External links

• Videogame coverage-centric potted history of the channel

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