Challenge (TV channel) explained

Challenge
Logo Alt:Bold
Sister Channels:List of Sky UK channels
Launch Date:
(Freeview)
Replaced:Channel One (Freeview)
Timeshift Service:Challenge +1 (2004–2020)
Owner:Living TV Group (1993–2010)
Sky Group (Comcast) (2010–present)
Country:United Kingdom
Ireland
Picture Format: 1080p HDTV (downscaled to 576i on terrestrial TV)
Former Names:The Family Channel (1993–1997)
Challenge TV (1997–2002)
Challenge? (2002–2003)
Terr Serv 1:Freeview
Terr Chan 1:Channel 48
Terr Serv 2:Saorview
Terr Chan 2:Channel 8
Online Serv 1:Sky Go
Online Chan 1:Watch live
Online Serv 2:Samsung TV Plus
Online Chan 2:Samsung TV Plus
Language:English

Challenge is a British free-to-air television channel owned by Sky Group's Sky UK subsidiary, themselves owned by American conglomerate Comcast. The channel is dedicated to game shows from the UK, including acquired classic and contemporary shows.

Challenge is currently available in HD on FAST platforms, such as Samsung TV Plus, along with sister channel Sky Mix.[1] An Irish feed has been available since November 2013 on cable and satellite.[2] It later launched on DTT (Saorview) on 1 February 2023;[3] joining sister channel Sky News on the service.

History

As The Family Channel

The Family Channel was a domestic version of the American cable network of the same name (now known as Freeform), then-owned by U.S. firm International Family Entertainment; which was the spin-off of the Christian Broadcasting Network that operated the channel. Prior to its launch, IFE sold a 39% stake in the channel to the UK-based Flextech (later to be known as Virgin Media Television, and the Living TV Group) in June 1993.[4] The Family Channel was then launched on 1 September 1993.

In April 1996, IFE sold its remaining 61% share to Flextech,[5] [6] giving them full ownership of the venture and production studio in Maidstone.[7]

Relaunch as Challenge TV

Flextech planned to relaunch The Family Channel as "The Challenge Channel" during the autumn of 1996, with daytime targeted towards housewives, and evening and weekend programming focused on game shows. However, Flextech decided to delay the relaunch so it would not compete with the October 1996 launch of Granada Sky Broadcasting's suite of channels; which included the potential competitor Granada Good Life.[8] Instead, The Family Channel began transitioning to the new brand by introducing a weekend game show strand known as Family Challenge Weekend.[9] [10] On 3 February 1997, The Family Channel rebranded as Challenge TV, devoting the majority of its lineup to game shows.

On 28 March 2002, Flextech announced that they would rebrand Challenge TV as Challenge? on 20 May. In addition, Sky Digital (now known as Sky UK) customers could play some shows from home to earn a spot on the Challenge? leaderboard, with the highest scorers earning prizes. Flextech also announced that these interactive services would come to digital cable later in 2002.[11] One year later, on 30 June 2003, the question mark was dropped from the channel's name, subsequently rebranding it as simply Challenge.

On 13 December 2004, a one-hour timeshift of Challenge, known as Challenge +1, launched on Sky Digital.[12]

In May 2005, with the success of its recently-added gambling-related programmes, Challenge launched a dedicated strand titled Player. The block would air from 10:00 pm every night, and feature live poker, as well as scripted series and films.[13]

On 2 March 2006, Player was spun-off to its own channel, which became a sister channel to Bravo.[14] On September 28, Player was rebranded as Bravo 2.

On 1 July 2008, a new sister channel called Challenge Jackpot was launched as a joint-venture between parent company Virgin Media Television and Two Way Media.[15]

Under Sky UK

On 7 April 2009, Virgin Media formally began the sale of its content operation.[16] On 13 July 2010, Sky UK and Virgin Media announced that the former had completed its acquisition of Virgin Media Television following regulatory approval in the Republic of Ireland.[17]

In March 2010, NetPlay TV, who acquired Two-Way Media in April 2009, terminated their agreement with to run Challenge Jackpot; the venture would be fully sold to NetPlay.[18]

On 15 September, Sky announced the closure of Bravo, Bravo 2 and Channel One. On Tuesday 1 February 2011, Challenge replaced Channel One's Freeview space on the Freeview multiplex; expanding the viewership of the channel by making it free-to-air around the United Kingdom.[19] [20] [21]

On 25 January 2011, it was announced that professional wrestling programming from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) would start broadcasting on Challenge from 3 February 2011.[22] In addition to airing Impact and Xplosion, Challenge aired reality series TNA British Boot Camp, and delayed broadcasts of TNA pay-per-view events. On 30 January 2014, for the first time, Impact was broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Challenge before it aired in the United States.[23]

On Monday 3 December 2012, Challenge launched on the free-to-air satellite platform Freesat.[24]

On 7 October 2013, the channel went through a revamp, which included a new logo, and a set of animated characters, named the "Challengers", as idents to represent each type of show; such as Les Play for classics, Ellie for lighter physical shows or Cecil the Geek for science shows.[25] [26]

By 2017, Challenge would drop all wrestling programming.[27]

On 1 June 2020, Challenge +1 was closed on all platforms.[28]

On 12 November 2020, Challenge broadcast football for the first time, when it showed the Northern Ireland v Slovakia UEFA Euro 2020 playoff final match.[29]

Programming

See main article: List of programmes broadcast by Challenge. Current programming seen on Challenge, as of July 2024, includes The Chase (presently, the most frequently aired show on the channel), Bullseye, Family Fortunes, Catchphrase, and Bruce's Price is Right & Play Your Cards Right.[30] [31] The channel has also produced its own original programmes, including revivals of Bullseye and Blockbusters.

Challenge has previously broadcast general intrest programming (including the BBC blooper show Auntie's Bloomers from 2009 to 2011.[32]), and was the former UK rights holder for U.S professional wrestling company TNA.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.samsung.com/uk/tvs/smart-tv/samsung-tv-plus/
  2. Web site: Republic of Ireland Broadcasters - Challenge TV . 24 October 2023 . medialive.ie.
  3. Web site: Challenge to launch on Saorview. 26 January 2023. Rxtvinfo.com. 30 January 2023.
  4. News: UK media group Flextech. (invests in UK Family Channel) (Brief Article). https://web.archive.org/web/20121026130142/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13966243.html. dead. 26 October 2012. 13 January 2016. Broadcasting & Cable. Highbeam Research. 7 June 1993.
  5. Web site: Flextech absorbs Family's U.K. assets. (Flextech PLC; International Family Entertainment Inc.). https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233007/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18261424.html. dead. 2013-11-05.
  6. Buy-up strategy covers all exits | Archive . Marketing Week . 5 April 1996 . 30 May 2014.
  7. Web site: International Family Entertainment Agrees To Consolidate The Family Channel Uk into Flextech Plc. - Free Online Library . Thefreelibrary.com . 20 March 1996 . 30 May 2014 . 18 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150118232705/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/INTERNATIONAL+FAMILY+ENTERTAINMENT+AGREES+TO+CONSOLIDATE+THE+FAMILY...-a018107792 . dead .
  8. Family Channel hands relaunch task to TBWA | Archive . Marketing Week . 15 November 1996 . 30 May 2014.
  9. The times newspaper and the Guardian newspaper October 1996
  10. Web site: Family Channel. TV Live. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160129045400/http://www.tv-live.org.uk/tv-presentation/sky/challenge/family-channel/. 29 January 2016. dmy-all.
  11. https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a6867/new-look-quotchallengequot-to-go-interactive-may-20/ New-look "Challenge?" to go interactive May 20
  12. Web site: Living TV 2, Challenge +1 launch . . 13 December 2004 .
  13. Web site: Chips with everything. TheGuardian.com. 16 May 2005.
  14. Web site: Player's on-air identity revealed. Digital Spy. 28 February 2006.
  15. Web site: Virgin to launch Challenge gaming channel. Digital Spy. 30 June 2008.
  16. Virgin Media begins sale of its content operations. Media Week. 7 April 2009.
  17. Web site: BSkyB and Virgin Media Complete Sale of VMtv . Virgin Media . 13 July 2010 . 2 September 2013.
  18. Web site: Acquisition of Challenge Jackpot database. NetPlay TV. 25 March 2010. 30 January 2022. 9 June 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100609075657/http://www.netplaytv.plc.uk/netplaytv/release.jsp?type=news&ref=192. dead.
  19. News: BSkyB to close Bravo and Channel One. Sweney. Mark. 15 September 2010. guardian.co.uk. 15 September 2010.
  20. Web site: BARB reported channels. overnights.tv. 17 January 2011.
  21. Web site: Paul . Entertainment Interactive . Entertainment-iuk.com . 26 January 2011 . 30 May 2014 . 8 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140508032654/http://www.entertainment-iuk.com/2011/01/26/freeview-channel-number-confirmed-for-challenge/ . dead .
  22. Web site: WWE News, TNA News, WWE Payback Results (6/1) . WrestlingNewsSource.Com . 30 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140508025512/http://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/feed_news-17976-Sky_Confirm_Challenge_TV_as_the_UK_Home_of_TNA_Pro.php . 8 May 2014 . dead .
  23. Web site: 'More from Impact Wrestling on Challenge TV' promises wrestler. www.cable.co.uk.
  24. Web site: Challenge TV launching on Freesat. Join Freesat. 1 December 2012. 1 December 2012. 7 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180707202213/http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/challenge-tv-launching-on-freesat/. dead.
  25. Web site: Challenge and Pick get an exciting new look . Skymedia.co.uk . 30 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031234/http://www.skymedia.co.uk/news/challenge-and-pick-get-an-exciting-new-look.aspx?year=2013 . 3 December 2013 . dmy-all .
  26. Web site: An Exciting New Look On . Challenge . 30 May 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001244/http://www.challenge.co.uk/news/challenge-gets-an-exciting-new-look.html . 9 May 2014 . dmy-all .
  27. Web site: TNA loses TV deal with Challenge TV in the UK after five years, both companies issue statements on the decision. WrestleView.
  28. Web site: Hi Andy, the +1 channels are becoming a little redundant with things like Catch Up & On Demand now. The decision was made to close the channel on June 1st, but please bare[sic] in mind everything available on +1 will still be available to download. Apologies for any inconvenience. ^CL ]. @SkyHelpTeam . Twitter . 3 June 2020 . en . 2 June 2020.
  29. Web site: Sky Sports make Scotland and Northern Ireland Euro 2020 play-off finals available free-to-air. Sky Sports.
  30. https://www.tvguide.co.uk/channel/challenge Challenge - Today's TV | TV Guide; Retrieved on 22 July 2024
  31. Challenge, today | Schedules | TV24.co.uk; Retrieved on 22 July 2024
  32. Web site: Auntie's Bloomers - Part 1 (repeated 20/04/2009). 23 April 2009 . www.youtube.com.