Channel Launches

BBC First drama channel to launch in Poland

BBC Studios’ premium British drama channel, BBC First, is due to launch in Poland in October. The linear TV channel will replace BBC HD and be available in the country via DTH satellite, cable and IPTV providers alongside BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News. The launch will make the full […]

Liberty Global’s MySports launches new channel

Liberty Global-owned UPC Switzerland’s sports broadcast unit MySports is launching a new sports channel, MySports One, ahead of the upcoming hockey season – a key event in the Swiss sporting calendar. The channel, which goes live today, will be distributed via UPC and other operators to digital TV customers. MySports One will be serve as […]

New name for Viasat Sport Baltic channel

All Media Baltics, the Providence Equity Partners-backed outfit that took control of Modern Times Group’s assets in the Baltic states last year, has rebranded the Viasat Sport Baltic premium sports channel as TVPlay Sports. The company has said that it will continue the strategy of Viasat Sport Baltic to be the market leader for premium […]

Discovery’s Quest launches on Freeview in HD

Discovery-owned factual channel Quest has launched in high definition on the UK’s Freeview free-to-view platform, featuring a range of shows and sports events. Quest will continue to be available in standard definition on the platform. Quest’s programming line-up includes English Football League (EFL) highlights on Saturday evenings from 21:00 along with a midweek show. EFL […]

Movistar+ launches aggressive promo campaign for football offering

Telefónica’s Movistar+ is offering its entire premium football line-up, including the Spanish second division La Liga 1|2|3 channel it added last week, to customers at no extra cost until January as part of an aggressive marketing strategy to capture the bulk of sports fans in the Spanish market. Movistar+ is also throwing in its premium […]

Viacom taps Red Bee for Paramount Network UK launch

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has tapped Red Bee Media for the launch of Paramount Network in the UK. Paramount Network, which launched in the UK market earlier this month, is being scheduled and programmed by the Channel 5 editorial team under the direction of Ben Frow, director of programmes at Viacom-owned Channel 5. The […]

UKTV channels leave Virgin platforms as deadlock continues

UKTV’s portfolio of 10 channels have been removed from Virgin Media’s platform and the two parties are still in deadlock after failing to agree terms of a new carriage deal. Around four million Virgin Media households are affected by the blackout of channels, which include Dave, Alibi, Drama, Gold and Eden. Thousands of hours of […]

Virgin Media adds FreeSports to programming line-up

Liberty Global-owned Virgin Media’s TV service Virgin TV has extended its roster of sports channels with the addition of FreeSports. The sports channel, which aims to broadcast up to 1,000 events a year, specialises in airing a mix of domestic and international programming, including highlights and live football, cricket, tennis, rugby, athletics and motorsport as […]

Mediawan strikes deal with TF1 to rebrand AB Moteurs as Automoto

French media group Mediawan, owner of AB Group’s channels, has struck a deal with TF1 that will see the pair rebrand motorsport channel AB Moteurs as Automoto. The change, which will take place in time for the post-summer season, will see the channel take the name of TF1’s flagship motorsport show, broadcast on its flagship […]

Starz channels launch on YouTube TV in the US

Starz’s lineup of 14 Starz and Starz Encore channels have launched on YouTube’s over-the-top YouTube TV service in the US. Access to the Starz-branded channels – along with the Starz and Starz Encore video-on-demand catalogues – will be available for US$9.99 per month, giving viewers access to Starz Original series including Outlander, American Gods and Vida. “The addition of […]