Universal TV
| Ownership | |
|---|---|
| Owner | NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUniversal/Comcast) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group) Brazil: NBCUniversal International Networks (50%), Globosat (Grupo Globo, 50%) (distributed by Globosat) |
Universal TV, formerly Universal Channel, is an international pay television network specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, horror, crime and investigation genres, owned by NBCUniversal International Networks, a division of NBCUniversal and available on satellite and cable platforms. They were formerly branded as USA Network until 2003 when the name was changed to take more advantage of the Universal branding, but continue programming as that network does like a general interest network.
Launched in other countries
Original launch
Universal Channel was officially launched on 1 December 2007 in Poland (as Kanał Universal) and Romania (as Canalul Universal) and on 1 July 2008 in Southeast Asia. In Latin America the channel is owned by NBC Universal but is controlled and broadcast by Fox Latin American Channels and Globosat in Brazil.
Re-branded in selected countries
In South Africa, Hallmark Channel was re-branded under that name on 24 March 2010 for DStv subscribers. In Japan, Sci Fi Channel re-branded to that name on 1 April 2010. In Australia, Hallmark Channel re-branded to that name on 1 July 2010. In Hungary (as Universal Csatorna), Czech Republic, Slovakia and ex Yugoslav countries Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hallmark Channel was re-branded to that name on 3 September 2010. And in the Philippines, this channel was launched on 26 July 2010 and replaced the Sci Fi Channel which was rebranded as Universal Channel.
On 18 October 2010, the Hallmark Channel in the UK and Ireland was rebranded, adopting the Universal Channel name. The UK version closed on 27 January 2020. On 3 May 2018, starting with the UK, they have begun the global rebrand of the channel as 'Universal TV'. In August 2018, the Brazilian feed of Universal Channel was rebranded to Universal TV, with the Latin American variant following suit in October.
Programmes
Movie block
- Universal Channel Movies
Current shows
| Latin America | Poland |
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia
|
| South Africa | Australia |
Former shows
- Astro Boy (a)
- Dalziel & Pascoe (a)
- Missing (b)
- Pushing Daisies (b)
- Quarterlife (b)
- The Secret Life of the American Teenager (b)
- Surface (b)
- Walker Texas Ranger (a)
- The Woody Woodpecker Show (a)
- World's Wildest Police Videos (b)
- Brothers & Sisters(b)
- Greek(b)
- Psych(b) (moved to Studio Universal)
- Heroes(b)
- The Event(b)
- Monk(b)
- Shattered (2010 TV series)(b)
- The Good Wife(b) (moved to Studio Universal)
- Forensic Files, under the Medical Detectives title(b)
- Three Rivers(b)
- Smash(b) (moved to Studio Universal)
- Surviving Suburbia (a)
- Worst Week (a)
- Family Guy (a)
Selected territories:
(a) - Latin America (b) - Southeast Asia
See also
- Universal TV (UK and Ireland)
- Universal Channel (Asia)
- Universal TV (Australia)
- Universal Channel (Greece)
- Universal Channel (Japan)
- Universal TV (Turkey)