Channel One (British and Irish TV channel): Difference between revisions
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== History == |
== History == |
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Virgin 1 was launched on [[1 October]] [[2007]] on all platforms ([[Freeview]], [[Virgin Media]] and [[Sky Digital UK|Sky Digital]]) replacing former [[Virgin Media Television]] channel [[Ftn]]. The network had previously expressed their intrest in running a general entertainment channel, to concide with the relaunch of ntl:Telewest to Virgin Media. The channel, intended to be in direct competition with [[BSkyB]]'s [[Sky One]],<ref>{{cite news| title = Virgin 1 Freeview channel to rival Sky One| publisher = Tech.co.uk| date = [[11 June]], [[2007]]| url = http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/video/film-and-tv/news/virgin-1-freeview-channel-to-rival-sky-one?articleid=1656449795| accessdate = 2007-11-04}}</ref> has 0.9% of the market compared to that of Virgin 1's 0. |
Virgin 1 was launched on [[1 October]] [[2007]] on all platforms ([[Freeview]], [[Virgin Media]] and [[Sky Digital UK|Sky Digital]]) replacing former [[Virgin Media Television]] channel [[Ftn]]. The network had previously expressed their intrest in running a general entertainment channel, to concide with the relaunch of ntl:Telewest to Virgin Media. The channel, intended to be in direct competition with [[BSkyB]]'s [[Sky One]],<ref>{{cite news| title = Virgin 1 Freeview channel to rival Sky One| publisher = Tech.co.uk| date = [[11 June]], [[2007]]| url = http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/video/film-and-tv/news/virgin-1-freeview-channel-to-rival-sky-one?articleid=1656449795| accessdate = 2007-11-04}}</ref> has 0.9% of the market compared to that of Virgin 1's 0.5%. Although Virgin 1's sister channel, [[Living (channel)|Living]] has 1.0% audience share combined with it's timeshifted service, a percent more than Sky One. It was announced in the summer of 2007 that Virgin Media Television was to launch the new channel.<ref>{{cite news| title = Virgin Media Television announces Virgin 1| publisher = Virgin Media Press Office| date = [[12 June]], [[2007]]| url = http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1014424&highlight| accessdate = 2006-08-24}}</ref> At first the company stated that all of their other channels, including Ftn would still run as normal, but because of Ftn having a key Freeview primetime slot which would increase any channels audience share this was later changed.<ref>{{cite news| title = Launch of Virgin 1 on Freeview| publisher = Freeview.co.uk| date =| url = http://freeview.co.uk/help/channels-programming/q102| accessdate = 2006-08-24}}</ref> As a result of the launch of Virgin 1, Ftn closed, leaving its EPG positions on Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview to Virgin 1.<ref>{{cite news| title = Virgin 1 launch date announced| publisher = Digital Spy| date = [[18 September]], [[2007]]| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a75847/virgin-1-launch-date-announced.html| accessdate = 2006-09-18}}</ref> |
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=== BSkyB dispute === |
=== BSkyB dispute === |
Revision as of 15:53, 4 November 2007
Country | ![]() |
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Ownership | |
Owner | Virgin Media Television |
Virgin 1 is the flagship television channel broadcast by Virgin Media Television. The channel was launched on 1 October 2007 at 9pm on Freeview, Virgin TV and Sky Digital UK, replacing Ftn. The channel is intended to be Virgin Media's attempt to create a rival to Sky One with the advantage of having a wider reach of viewers. The channel will initially have a £40 million budget as well as being funded through advertising revenue.
The channel is broadcast 24 hours on cable and satellite complemented by the Virgin 1 +1 service (not available on Freeview). As Ftn only broadcast for 12 hours on Freeview, Virgin 1 is broadcast on Freeview only from 6:00 pm until 6:00 am.
History
Virgin 1 was launched on 1 October 2007 on all platforms (Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky Digital) replacing former Virgin Media Television channel Ftn. The network had previously expressed their intrest in running a general entertainment channel, to concide with the relaunch of ntl:Telewest to Virgin Media. The channel, intended to be in direct competition with BSkyB's Sky One,[1] has 0.9% of the market compared to that of Virgin 1's 0.5%. Although Virgin 1's sister channel, Living has 1.0% audience share combined with it's timeshifted service, a percent more than Sky One. It was announced in the summer of 2007 that Virgin Media Television was to launch the new channel.[2] At first the company stated that all of their other channels, including Ftn would still run as normal, but because of Ftn having a key Freeview primetime slot which would increase any channels audience share this was later changed.[3] As a result of the launch of Virgin 1, Ftn closed, leaving its EPG positions on Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview to Virgin 1.[4]
BSkyB dispute
On March 1, 2007, at 00:00 GMT, Sky's basic channels, which included Sky One (along with Sky Two, not previously available to Telewest customers, Sky News, Sky Sports News, Sky Travel and Sky Travel Extra), were removed from the Virgin Media cable television services after a dispute between Virgin Media and BSkyB. This was due to the expiry of their previous carriage agreement, and their inability to reach a new deal.[5][6] This, in turn, was another reason for launching the channel
Virgin Central, an on-demand service, has recently gained the rights to begin showing episodes of the television show Lost (already shown on Sky One), and other shows including Alias and The OC. This service extends the on-demand service previously known as Teleport TV. Teleport TV remains available, offering recently-broadcast shows and other shows and series.
On 2 March 2007 The National Consumer Council accused Sky and Virgin of "behaving like children" and stated that at the end of March 2007 it would consider whether or not to raise a super-complaint against them "that will help to knock heads together".[7] On 5 March 2007 Virgin Media threatened to take legal action against BSkyB if the matter remained unresolved in 30 days.[8] On 12 April 2007 Virgin Media filed a legal case in the High Court against BSkyB under the UK Competition Act 1998 and Article 82 of the EC Treaty. BSkyB claimed that Virgin Media made little effort to further arbitration.[9]
Launch night
On the launch night, the channel started of at 18:00 by showing three hours of looped previews accompanied by a countdown until the official launch at 21:00.
The schedule after the previews for the primetime shows on the channels launch night were as follows:
Time | Programme Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
18.00 | Previews | Previews shown on loop until official launch |
21.00 | Criminal Minds | Show had 251,000 viewers and 1.29% of the audience share |
22.00 | The Riches | This show had 323,000 viewers and 2.50% audience share |
23.15 | Penis Envy | This show attracted 158,000 viewers |
Programming
The schedule for Virgin 1 currently consists of a mixture of American and British comedy, drama and factual programming. The channel is pitched towards its female-targeted channel Living and the male-targeted channel Bravo. The channel also shows commissioned content from Living, Bravo, Challenge and Trouble as well as its own commissioned content such as Crime Invasion.
Some planned programmes that will be shown on Virgin 1 include:
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Coming soon
- Death Row Dogs[18]
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles[11]
V Funny Sunday
V Funny Sunday is a programming block which airs on Sunday evenings. The block airs from 9pm-11pm and features a mix of new and classic comedy from the United States. The block is thought to have taken inspiration from the US network Fox (owned by Sky One parent News Corp) which also airs a comedy block on Sunday evenings (known as LOL Sunday).
From the 11th November this programming block is being changed, both Help Me Help You and Boston Legal will no longer be included.
Virgin 1 Website
File:Virgin1.png | |
Type of site | Portal |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Owner | Virgin Media |
Created by | Virgin Group |
URL | http://virgin1.virginmedia.com/ |
Commercial | Yes |
Registration | Optional |
The URL virgin1.virginmedia.com is the address of the main website for Virgin 1, originally at virgin1.co.uk. The website that accommodates the channel. The website offers online streaming, competitions, TV Guide, programme information, videos as well as social networking facilities. Other features include an Editor's Pick, newsletter and my virgin 1.
The URL 'www.virgin1.co.uk' was created in September 2007, before the launch of the channel, with the main aim to get buzz about the new channel. It initially only featured a taster video [19] highlighting the new shows that would broadcast on Virgin 1. When the channel launched a new website at the URL 'virgin1.virginmedia.com' commenced, although the original now redirects to the new site.
Another website for Virgin 1 also exists as part of the main virginmedia.com website. It features information on all of the channels programmes and short previews of television shows such as The Riches and Crime Invasion and games.
References
- ^ "Virgin 1 Freeview channel to rival Sky One". Tech.co.uk. 11 June, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Virgin Media Television announces Virgin 1". Virgin Media Press Office. 12 June, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
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(help) - ^ "Launch of Virgin 1 on Freeview". Freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Virgin 1 launch date announced". Digital Spy. 18 September, 2007. Retrieved 2006-09-18.
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(help) - ^ James Welsh (2007-03-01). "Sky One, Sky News pulled from Virgin". Digital Spy.
- ^ "BSkyB channels taken off Virgin". BBC News. 2007-03-01.
- ^ "Consumer body angry at BSkyB row". BBC. 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-03-02.
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(help) - ^ "Virgin TV in BSkyB legal threat". BBC. 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-05.
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"Virgin TV in BSkyB court action". BBC. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Virgin 1 schedule (2 October)". Radio Times. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g "October on Virgin 1". Idigitalsales. 18 September, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
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(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 to explore UK crime invasion". C21 Media. 24 August, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
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(help) - ^ a b "Virgin 1 schedule (1 October)". Radio Times. Retrieved 2007-09-19. Cite error: The named reference "1oct" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Virgin 1 to air 'cockumentary'". Digital Spy. 23 August, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
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(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 television advertisement". Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ a b "Virgin 1 to get £40 million investment". Digital Spy. 24 June, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
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(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 goes for bold look with new identity". Brand Republic. 29 August, 2007. Retrieved 2006-09-08.
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(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 commissions Death Row Dogs". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- ^ Virgin 1 taster video Before featured on website