Channel One (British and Irish TV channel)
| Country |  United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Virgin Media Television |
Virgin 1 is the flagship television channel broadcast by Virgin Media Television. The channel was launched on 1 October 2007 at 9pm on Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky Digital, replacing Ftn. Some media sources have claimed that the channel is intended to be Virgin Media's attempt to create a rival to Sky One with the advantage of having a wider reach of viewers. The channel will initially have a £40 million budget as well as being funded through advertising revenue.
The channel is broadcast 24 hours on cable and satellite complemented by the Virgin 1 +1 service (not available on Freeview). As Ftn only broadcast for 12 hours on Freeview, Virgin 1 is broadcast on Freeview only from 6:00 pm until 6:00 am.
History
Virgin 1 was launched on 1 October 2007 on all platforms (Freeview, Virgin Media and Sky Digital) replacing former Virgin Media Television channel Ftn. The network had previously expressed their interest in running a general entertainment channel, to coincide with the relaunch of NTL:Telewest to Virgin Media. Some media sources claimed that Virgin 1 was intended to be in direct competition with BSkyB's Sky One[1], which has an average of around 0.9% of the market compared to Virgin 1's 0.6%. Virgin 1's sister channel Living has 1.0% audience share combined with its timeshifted service. It was announced in the summer of 2007 that Virgin Media Television was to launch the new channel.[2] At first the company stated that all of their other channels, including Ftn would still run as normal, but because of Ftn having a key Freeview primetime slot which would increase any channels audience share this was later changed.[3] As a result of the launch of Virgin 1, Ftn closed, leaving its EPG positions on Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview to Virgin 1.[4]
The channel went on to achieve it's highest ratings thus far, with the season premiere of Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles which grabbed a 4.2% share of multi channel viewers. [5]
Launch night
On the launch night, the channel started of at 18:00 by showing three hours of looped previews accompanied by a countdown until the official launch at 21:00.
The schedule after the previews for the primetime shows on the channels launch night were as follows:
| Time | Programme Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 18.00 | Previews | Previews shown on loop until official launch |
| 21.00 | Criminal Minds | This show attracted 347,000 viewers |
| 22.00 | The Riches | This show attracted 419,000 viewers |
| 23.15 | Penis Envy | This show attracted 158,000 viewers |
Programming
The schedule for Virgin 1 currently consists of a mixture of American and British comedy, drama and factual programming. The channel is pitched towards its female-targeted channel Living and the male-targeted channel Bravo. The channel also shows commissioned content from Living, Bravo, Challenge and Trouble as well as its own commissioned content such as Crime Invasion.
Current Programming
Coming soon
- Bingolotto[16] (starts 29 February 2008)
- Brits Behind Bars[17]
- Chuck[18]
- Death Defying Rescues[19] (starts 28 February 2008)
- Death Row Dogs[20]
- The Leo Houlding Project[14]
Former programming
V Funny Sunday
V Funny Sunday is a programming block which airs on Sunday evenings which currently features classic comedy from the United States. The block is thought to have taken inspiration from the US network Fox (owned by Sky One parent News Corp) which also airs a comedy block on Sunday evenings (known as LOL Sunday).
From 11th November the V Funny Sunday programming block changed both in programming and when it would air, moving from a starting time of 9pm to the earlier time of 7pm. Both Help Me Help You and Boston Legal were replaced by The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and That 70s Show.
From 2 December the V Funny Sunday programming block was changed and shortened to 2 hours, with Seinfeld being removed from its 9pm slot to make way for factual programming such as Crime Invasion and the ....Envy series.
|
7 October to 4 November
|
11 November to 24 November
|
2 December to present
|
Virgin 1 Website
| File:Virgin1.png | |
| File:Virgin1.co.uk.png Virgin 1 website as of December 2007 | |
Type of site | Portal |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Virgin Media |
| Created by | Virgin Group |
| URL | www.virgin1.co.uk |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
The URL virgin1.co.uk (also virgin1.virginmedia.com) is the address of the main website for Virgin 1. The website that accommodates the channel. The website offers online streaming, competitions, TV Guide, programme information, videos as well as social networking facilities. Other features include an Editor's Pick, newsletter and my virgin 1.
The URL 'www.virgin1.co.uk' was created in September 2007, before the launch of the channel, with the main aim to get buzz about the new channel. It initially only featured a taster video. Before featured on website highlighting the new shows that would broadcast on Virgin 1. When the channel launched a new website at the URL 'virgin1.virginmedia.com' commenced, although the original now redirects to the new site.
Another website for Virgin 1 also exists as part of the main virginmedia.com website. It features information on all of the channels programmes and short previews of television shows such as The Riches and Crime Invasion and games.
Closure
On the 28/02/2008 it was announced that Virgin One was to close on 01/03/2008, before the launch of Ritz TV, a 24 hour entertainment channel devoted to singer Taco Ockerse.
References
- ^ "Virgin 1 Freeview channel to rival Sky One". Tech.co.uk. 11 June, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Virgin Media Television announces Virgin 1". Virgin Media Press Office. 12 June, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Launch of Virgin 1 on Freeview". Freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Virgin 1 launch date announced". Digital Spy. 18 September, 2007. Retrieved 2006-09-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/785823/Terminator-series-gives-Virgin-1-record-audience/
- ^ "Virgin Media gets inventive". C21Media. 7 February, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Virgin 1 schedule (2 October)". Radio Times. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "October on Virgin 1". idigitalsales. 18 September, 2007.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) Cite error: The named reference "ids" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ "Virgin 1 to explore UK crime invasion". C21 Media. 24 August, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 schedule (1 October)". Radio Times. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ "Virgin 1 looks at 'Extraordinary Humans'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
- ^ "Virgin 1 to air 'cockumentary'". Digital Spy. 23 August, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 Week 51.pdf" (PDF). idigitalsales.
- ^ a b "Virgin 1 to get £40 million investment". Digital Spy. 24 June, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 acquires music series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ^ "Virgin 1 to air new lottery". Broadcast. 5 December, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "V1 shows Tyson behind bars". C21Media. 22 November, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Virgin 1 acquires spy comedy 'Chuck'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Remarkable stories of individual bravery explored in Virgin1's documentary series, Death Defying Rescues". Virgin Media TV. Retrieved 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Virgin 1 commissions Death Row Dogs". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
