| Playboy TV | |
| Launch Date: | (as Escapade) (programming block) (TV channel) |
| Picture Format: | 480i (SDTV) (Americas) 576i (SDTV) (Europe) 1080i (HDTV) (United States, Latin America and Russia) |
| Owner: | Rainbow Programming Services (1980-1983, distribution until 1986) Playboy Inc. (1982-2011) Aylo (2011-present)[1] |
| Country: | United States |
| Area: | United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Israel, United Kingdom |
| Language: | English Spanish |
| Former Names: | Escapade (1980-1982) The Playboy Channel (1982-1989) Playboy at Night (1989-1994) |
| Webcast: | Live TV |
Playboy TV (originally The Playboy Channel) is a pay television channel based in the United States.
The channel first launched on December 9, 1980, as Escapade by Rainbow Programing Services (a joint-venture of four cable companies, led by Cablevision). At launch, Escapade aired mostly R rated B movies. The channel broadcast five nights a week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET (or as early as 4:00 a.m. on some cable systems). Sunday and Monday nights were reserved for Rainbow's other new pay service, Bravo, which featured programming centered around the performing arts, foreign and arthouse films. The satellite time utilized by the two networks was subleased from the National Christian Network.[2] By July 1981, the service expanded to seven nights a week.[3]
In August 1981, Playboy Enterprises became half-owner of Escapade and announced a plan to produce original programming that reflected the contents of Playboy magazine beginning in early 1982.[4] On January 21, 1982, the Playboy Channel on Escapade debuted as a four-hour programming block. The first program was an interview with John and Bo Derek, followed by footage of January playmate Shannon Tweed, the West German adult movie Vanessa, and a magazine features including "Ribald Classics".[5] Over the months that followed, Escapade would gradually increase the amount of Playboy programming.
The channel officially relaunched as the Playboy Channel on November 18, 1982.[6] The original programming and style of the Playboy Channel was developed by Hugh Hefner, and producer Michael Trikilis. Playboy hired its own sales and marketing staff and launched the channel on several major multiple system operators. At the time of its launch, programming featured on the channel consisted of R-rated films. Also they would have their own music video program, based on the then-new cable channel MTV titled Playboy's Hot Rocks with music videos that was "too hot" for Music Television and only seen at nightclubs. It was broadcast for only ten hours each day, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, during its first eleven years of existence. In October 1983, Rainbow Media exited the partnership by selling its share to Playboy, but would continue to distribute the channel until 1986.[7] The channel re-launched as Playboy at Night on November 1, 1989. During this era, original programming contained NR-rated films. The network expanded its programming with the adoption of a 24-hour schedule and adopted its current name in 1994.
In 2008, the channel launched its HD simulcast feed under the name "Playboy TV HD".
In November 2011, Playboy Enterprises sold its ownership of its media properties (including the Spice Networks) to Manwin (later MindGeek and Aylo), who would operate them, including Playboy TV, under the "Playboy Plus Entertainment" subsidiary.[1] Although Playboy Enterprises would re-acquire their website, Aylo still continues operate Playboy TV under license.
In Spring 2023, Playboy TV launched on Tricolor TV.
Playboy TV was originally developed as a video version of Playboy magazine. Programming featured music reviews, celebrity interviews, men's fashion and segments on cars. It was a video extension of the magazine - an established lifestyle brand. Slowly the programming on the channel evolved to feature more attractive women and eventually soft core features. This then evolved to what would become more standard television programming with a focus primarily on a male demographic.
In 2010, Playboy TV unveiled a new program slate,[8] which featured series tailored to both male and female viewers.[9]