| Universal Channel | |
| Closed Date: | (Malaysia and Sri Lanka) (Rest of Asia) |
| Picture Format: | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Network: | NBCUniversal International Networks |
| Owner: | NBCUniversal |
| Country: | Singapore |
| Headquarters: | Singapore |
| Former Names: | Universal Channel (Philippines only, July 26, 2010-August 3, 2012) |
| Sister Channels: | CNBC Asia DIVA E! Golf Channel Syfy DreamWorks Channel Euronews |
Universal Channel was a television channel specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, crime and investigation genres. It was owned by Universal Networks International. This channel was launched in Singapore on 1 July 2008 along with Sci Fi Channel, then Syfy Universal (Asia).[1]
On the first on-air broadcast launch saw the official slogan was It's the People Who Make Us. On July 24, 2010, the second on-air look with colorful visual ident theme and the official slogan was Characters Welcome as well as the channel converting from 4:3 aspect ratio to widescreen picture format since February 8, 2011. It brought the latest of new series, including two Asian TV premiere series, as well as returning to first seasons of almost all programs already aired.
On January 28, 2014, the Universal Channel refreshed itself alongside other transformations. Among the changes under the rebrand included the channel aligning itself with the international logo and slogan 100% Characters.[2] The channel brought the Same Day or Express from the U. S. telecast with selected programs.
After nine years of broadcasting, Universal Channel along with Syfy ceased broadcasting at midnight, July 1, 2017, in the rest of the Asia.[3] In Malaysia and Sri Lanka the channel discontinued a day earlier. The channel programmed with a finale episode of Shades of Blue on that day, an ending with the season one finale "One Last Lie" before going off-the-air. Most of the programs of Universal Channel were moved to DIVA, but on 1 January 2020, DIVA and E! discontinued after twenty-two years of broadcast.