UKTV to launch new Drama network

Multichannel broadcaster UKTV is set to launch a new British drama network on UK digital-terrestrial service Freeview. 

The free channel, called Drama, is due to go live on July 8 and will broadcast a range of catalogue drama from the past 40 years, including Lark Rise to Candleford, Sharpe, Pride and Prejudice and Tipping the Velvet. 

It is the first UKTV channel to launch since the 2009 introduction of lifestyle network Really, and joins UKTV’s line-up of other free-to-air channels, the male-skewing Dave and factual network Yesterday.

“Drama is targeted at a different audience demographic than our other highly successful free-to-air channels,” said UKTV controller Emma Tennant. “The channel is aimed at people who simply love drama and want to watch critically-acclaimed shows that have absolutely defined the landscape of British television.”