ABC1 (British and Irish TV channel): Difference between revisions
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The schedule consists entirely of [[United States|American]] drama, comedy and soap. These are mainly from the ABC network, such as ''[[Sports Night]]''. It broadcasts ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'', the 90s sitcom by comedian [[Ellen DeGeneres]] and the [[Geena Davis]] sitcom ''[[The Geena Davis Show]]'' A few of its programmes such as ''[[8 Simple Rules]]'' and ''[[Home Improvement]]'' were also seen in the UK on [[The Disney Channel|Disney Channel]], but were later moved over completely to ABC1, when it started airing on [[Sky Digital (UK)|Sky Digital]], to coincide with the full ''cartoon evenings''. |
The schedule consists entirely of [[United States|American]] drama, comedy and soap. These are mainly from the ABC network, such as ''[[Sports Night]]''. It broadcasts ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'', the 90s sitcom by comedian [[Ellen DeGeneres]] and the [[Geena Davis]] sitcom ''[[The Geena Davis Show]]'' A few of its programmes such as ''[[8 Simple Rules]]'' and ''[[Home Improvement]]'' were also seen in the UK on [[The Disney Channel|Disney Channel]], but were later moved over completely to ABC1, when it started airing on [[Sky Digital (UK)|Sky Digital]], to coincide with the full ''cartoon evenings''. |
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On [[February 28]] and [[March 1]], [[2005]], the network shook up its schedule by introducing two major new comedies, ''[[Hope and Faith]]'' and ''[[Less Than Perfect]]'' to sandwich around the big ratings success of ''8 Simple Rules''. On [[May 31]] the channel introduced ''[[Rodney (TV series)|Rodney]]'' to its schedule at 4pm weekdays and from the [[July 4|4th July]] ABC1 began to air ''[[Scrubs (TV show)|Scrubs]]'', which is also seen on other UK channels, [[E4 (channel)|E4]], [[Channel 4]], [[Paramount comedy 1 |
On [[February 28]] and [[March 1]], [[2005]], the network shook up its schedule by introducing two major new comedies, ''[[Hope and Faith]]'' and ''[[Less Than Perfect]]'' to sandwich around the big ratings success of ''8 Simple Rules''. On [[May 31]] the channel introduced ''[[Rodney (TV series)|Rodney]]'' to its schedule at 4pm weekdays and from the [[July 4|4th July]] ABC1 began to air ''[[Scrubs (TV show)|Scrubs]]'', which is also seen on other UK channels, [[E4 (channel)|E4]], [[Channel 4]], [[Paramount comedy 1]] and [[Sky One]]. |
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For the first year after launching ABC1 broadcast from 6am to 6pm only. Commencing [[26 September]] [[2005]], the channel has broadcast 24 hours a day on [[Sky Digital (UK)|Sky Digital]] and [[NTL]] services. However, the channel did not go 24-hours on the [[Telewest]] digital cable service until [[21 October]] [[2005]], and remains a 12 hour service (6am - 6pm) on Freeview due to space restrictions on the platform. It is known that Disney would like the channel to go 24hrs on Freeview to boost its audience share in the evenings. [[NTL Ireland]] currently carries ABC1 24-hours, but for unknown reasons (a problem at ABC1, according to NTL) the guide reports "Channel Off Air" at 18:00 every day. |
For the first year after launching ABC1 broadcast from 6am to 6pm only. Commencing [[26 September]] [[2005]], the channel has broadcast 24 hours a day on [[Sky Digital (UK)|Sky Digital]] and [[NTL]] services. However, the channel did not go 24-hours on the [[Telewest]] digital cable service until [[21 October]] [[2005]], and remains a 12 hour service (6am - 6pm) on Freeview due to space restrictions on the platform. It is known that Disney would like the channel to go 24hrs on Freeview to boost its audience share in the evenings. [[NTL Ireland]] currently carries ABC1 24-hours, but for unknown reasons (a problem at ABC1, according to NTL) the guide reports "Channel Off Air" at 18:00 every day. |
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Revision as of 16:48, 15 November 2006
- Despite the name, ABC1 does not have any sister channels. While ABC2 is the name of the sister channel of ABC TV in Australia.
| Ownership | |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Walt Disney Company |
ABC1 is a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney utilizing the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.
The channel initially launched exclusively on the British Digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on September 27, 2004. On December 10 2004 it was launched on Telewest's digital cable service, and soon afterwards on the NTL digital cable service. On August 30, 2005, ABC1 was launched on the Sky Digital satellite platform. The channel is encrypted as part of the basic Sky package, and is therefore not free-to-air, in contrast to its unencrypted status on Freeview and Cable television. In October 2005, ABC1 was carried on the NTL Ireland digital TV platform.
Programming
The schedule consists entirely of American drama, comedy and soap. These are mainly from the ABC network, such as Sports Night. It broadcasts Ellen, the 90s sitcom by comedian Ellen DeGeneres and the Geena Davis sitcom The Geena Davis Show A few of its programmes such as 8 Simple Rules and Home Improvement were also seen in the UK on Disney Channel, but were later moved over completely to ABC1, when it started airing on Sky Digital, to coincide with the full cartoon evenings.
On February 28 and March 1, 2005, the network shook up its schedule by introducing two major new comedies, Hope and Faith and Less Than Perfect to sandwich around the big ratings success of 8 Simple Rules. On May 31 the channel introduced Rodney to its schedule at 4pm weekdays and from the 4th July ABC1 began to air Scrubs, which is also seen on other UK channels, E4, Channel 4, Paramount comedy 1 and Sky One.
For the first year after launching ABC1 broadcast from 6am to 6pm only. Commencing 26 September 2005, the channel has broadcast 24 hours a day on Sky Digital and NTL services. However, the channel did not go 24-hours on the Telewest digital cable service until 21 October 2005, and remains a 12 hour service (6am - 6pm) on Freeview due to space restrictions on the platform. It is known that Disney would like the channel to go 24hrs on Freeview to boost its audience share in the evenings. NTL Ireland currently carries ABC1 24-hours, but for unknown reasons (a problem at ABC1, according to NTL) the guide reports "Channel Off Air" at 18:00 every day.
ABC1 added US drama Kevin Hill to its schedule on 26 September 2005 as well as the second seasons of Less Than Perfect and Sports Night towards the end of the year . 8 Simple Rules Season 3 was shown in March 2006, followed by Commander In Chief, and The Guardian, which joined the channel in April, 2006.
On June 5 2006, ABC1 introduced a block of programming from Playhouse Disney, including Higglytown Heroes, JoJo's Circus and Stanley. In July 2006, ABC1 started to air the second season of Scrubs and the most loved 90's drama Party of five. In August more new programming was made available from ABC1 from the likes of Rodney season 2 and a change in the schedule for Playhouse Disney on ABC1 with the addition of the Little Einsteins. In August all drama programming was removed from the schedule including the likes of Kevin Hill and Sports night. As of September, all drama programming has being removed, and the channel will then consist of back to back sitcoms, though drama programming is expected to return next year. In September Hope and Faith season 3 will start and will broadcast every Thursday in double bills from 9pm. They also plan to air season 3 of Less Than Perfect in October.
ABC1 is keen for its viewers to be able to see all of its programming on offer, and many programmes that premiere on the channel during non-Freeview hours are repeated at a later time when the channel is available on Freeview (the only exception to this is The Guardian due to its subject matter). It is also the only channel to time its running schedule so that Freeview viewers don't crash in and out of programmes at the 6am/6pm junctions.
Future Programmes
- Ghost Whisperer will be shown in 2007 after premiering on E4.
- In Justice will be shown in 2007 after premiering on UKTV Gold [1]
Commercial Placement
Unlike most UK broadcasters, for its first six months ABC1 did not carry any commercials. However, it did have full-length ad-style breaks featuring trailers for its own shows and those of the Disney Channel. This was simply due to get audience figures and the fact that its parent company Disney (UK) has never broadcasted adverts in its channels.
On ABC1, the advertising slots are placed in the American style of being close to the beginning and end of the programme, unlike the European fashion of between programmes and in the middle. (Both styles have four sections of adverts about four minutes each in length. The American style has the adverts at approximately 5,25,35 and 55 minutes past the hour as opposed to the standard European style of 0,15,30 and 45 minutes past.) The Exact placing of adverts vary from show to show and from episode to episode and can be anything from half a minute to eight minutes before/after the beginning/end of a show. On ABC1, hour-length programmes (such as Commander In Chief) are often split into just three parts with the two ad-slots either end of the programme and the third roughly at the halfway point.
List of shows on ABC1
- Scrubs (NBC) (Touchstone Television)
- 8 Simple Rules (ABC) (Touchstone Televison)
- Ellen (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- Hope & Faith (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- Less Than Perfect (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- The Geena Davis Show (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- Home Improvement (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- Rodney (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
Shows that ABC1 no Longer Broadcast
- Kevin Hill (UPN) (Touchstone Television)
- Moonlighting (ABC) (ABC Circle Films) (now Touchstone)
- Once and Again (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- Sports Night (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- Commander in Chief (ABC) (Touchstone Television)
- The Guardian (CBS) (Sony Pictures Television Shows)
- Daddio (NBC) (Touchstone Television)
- Party of Five (FOX) (Sony Pictures Television Shows)
- Mad About You (NBC) (Sony Pictures Television Shows)
Playhouse Disney on ABC1
- Stanley (Playhouse Disney)
- JoJo's Circus (Playhouse Disney)
- Higglytown Heroes (Playhouse Disney)
- The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Playhouse Disney)
- Little Einsteins (Playhouse Disney)
Links
- Official site
- ABC1 UK - Link to the unofficial site.
- ABC1 WIKIA
- Save ABC1 dramas petition
