Challenge (TV channel): Difference between revisions
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.challenge.co.uk challenge.co.uk] |
*[http://www.challenge.co.uk challenge.co.uk] |
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*[http://thetvroom.com/otheruk The TV Room] looks at presentation/branding on Challenge |
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{{Virgin Media Television}} |
{{Virgin Media Television}} |
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Revision as of 15:50, 16 March 2008
| Ownership | |
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| Owner | Virgin Media Television |
Challenge is a British digital TV channel owned by Virgin Media Television. Originally known as The Family Channel, and later as Challenge TV, the station relies heavily on gameshows taken from a variety of sources. Most are repeats of programmes acquired from the terrestrial channels' archives, but a few are original productions commissioned by Challenge itself.
The channel also has interactive features for digital cable and satellite viewers watching certain shows, enabling them to play along at home.
Challenge acquires programmes which have usually previously been shown on UK terrestrial channels.
Challenge now broadcasts 24 hours a day. In its early years, it timeshared with The Children's Channel and then later with TV Travel Shop. During this, Challenge would usually begin at 5pm and run until around midnight, with a teleshopping service filling up the early hours when both them and either TCC or TV Travel Shop weren't broadcasting.
History
The Family Channel was first broadcast to the UK in September 1993 when International Family Entertainment purchased the programme archive of the former ITV franchise TVS in January of 1993. The archive included several US dramas which were included via TVS' ownership of MTM Enterprises. This gave the fledgling channel a large range of programming to choose from and also allowed it to commission new series and/or variants of former TVS shows, an example being Family Catchphrase.
In 1997, IFE was sold to Fox who disposed of the UK operation. It was acquired by Flextech and re-branded as Challenge TV.
Themed programming
In recent times Challenge has begun to theme its daily schedule. Gameshow repeats typically play in the daytime, action gameshows are shown in early evening, and now reality and casino-based programmes have been introduced late at night. This has drawn criticism to the channel but in return has attracted a whole new audience. [citation needed]
In late 2004 Challenge introduced the Gameshow Gods slot during weekday evenings, in which two vintage episodes hosted by well-known gameshow presenters such as Bob Monkhouse, Bruce Forsyth and Ted Rogers were shown each night. They would then be replaced with another two gameshows the following month. This re-introduced many gameshow favourites from years gone by.
In the summer of 2005 Challenge showed Old-School Saturdays, featuring popular Saturday-evening programmes of years gone by. This was followed in the autumn by Tea Time Takedown: popular action gameshows, namely The Crystal Maze and Gladiators, were shown in the early-evening slots on weekdays. This theme of programming continues at those times, albeit without the Teatime Takedown label.
From spring 2006 Challenge began a Quiz Frenzy on weekday afternoons, playing such quiz shows such as Fifteen to One.
In summer 2006 Challenge continued its line of themed programmes with Threesomes every weekend. Three classic gameshows such as Catchphrase and Family Fortunes were shown three times a day, back-to-back. This did take a break for a brief time shortly after its introduction but has recently been re-introduced. In March 2007 Fully Loaded was introduced showing double-bills of certain gameshows on weekday mornings. This also brought in the introduction of the short-lived ITV daytime show Cash Cab. Dale's Supermarket Sweep will be joining this line up from August 2007.
Player
On March 2 2006, Challenge's parent company Flextech Television launched a new channel called Player. Previously Challenge had aired a late-night block under the Player name (featuring gambling programmes such as Celebrity Poker Club, Casino Casino and the World Poker Tour), which was a great success. [citation needed] The new full-time Player channel used the same ident as Challenge's Player strand but in a different colour (from red to yellow). The channel was renamed Bravo 2 and has become a sister channel of Bravo rather than Challenge.
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Logo of the Player block on Challenge
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Logo of the Player channel
Children's Programming
From Christmas 2002, Challenge started airing children programmes as part of the Christmas Cult Selection. Crackerjack and Knightmare have been the only 2 children shows that have been aired on that particular channel. Challenge also had some huge requests to air CITV's Fun House but no defined answer was given as to whether they will accept this or not.
Programmes That Currently & Formerly Aired On Challenge
Presenters
- Toby Anstis 2000 - 2002
- Andy Crane 1997 - 1998
- Kevin Duala 1998 - 2001
- Lisa Rogers 1998 - 1999
- Carryl Varley 1997 - 1998 & 2000 - 2002
Logos
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The Family Channel (1993 - 1997)
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Challenge TV (1997 - 2002)
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Challenge? (2002 - 2003)
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Challenge (2003 - 2004)
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Challenge (2004 - 2006)
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Challenge (2006 - present)
External links
- challenge.co.uk
- The TV Room looks at presentation/branding on Challenge
