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Pay television channel From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Universal TV, formerly Universal Channel, is an international pay television network specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, horror, crime and investigation genres, owned by NBCUniversal International Networks, a division of NBCUniversal and available on satellite and cable platforms. They were formerly branded as USA Network until 2003 when the name was changed to take more advantage of the Universal branding, but continue programming as that network does like a general interest network.
| |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Latin America Africa Germany Australia New Zealand Poland (formerly) Romania (formerly) Russia (formerly) Hungary (formerly) Czech Republic (formerly) Turkey (formerly) Asia (formerly) Greece (formerly) Japan (formerly) Slovakia (formerly) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUniversal/Comcast) (operated and distributed by Ole Distribution) Brazil: NBCUniversal International Networks (50%), Canais Globo (Grupo Globo, 50%) (distributed by Canais Globo) |
| Sister channels | 13th Street Universal Diva Universal Syfy Universal Studio Universal Movies 24 CNBC International E! Golf Channel DreamWorks Channel Sky News |
| History | |
| Launched | September 1, 2004 (Latin America) May 29, 2007 (Russia) December 2009 (Turkey) |
| Closed | May 1, 2015 (Russia; Romania)[1] January 27, 2020 (United Kingdom) |
| Replaced by | Sky Comedy (United Kingdom) |
| Links | |
| Website | Universal TV Brazil Universal TV South Africa Universal TV Latin America Universal Channel Russia |
Universal Channel was officially launched on 1 September 2004 in Latin America,[2] then it launched on 1 December 2007 in Poland (as Kanał Universal) and Romania (as Canalul Universal)[3][1] and on 1 July 2008 in Southeast Asia.
In South Africa, Hallmark Channel was re-branded under that name on 24 March 2010 for DStv subscribers. In Japan, Sci Fi Channel re-branded to that name on 1 April 2010.[4] In Australia, Hallmark Channel re-branded to that name on 1 July 2010.[5] In Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and ex Yugoslav countries Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hallmark Channel was re-branded to that name on 3 September 2010.[6][7] And in the Philippines, this channel was launched on 26 July 2010 and replaced the Sci Fi Channel which was rebranded as Universal Channel.
On 18 October 2010, the Hallmark Channel in the UK and Ireland was rebranded, adopting the Universal Channel name.[8] The UK version closed on 27 January 2020. On 3 May 2018, starting with the UK, they have begun the global rebrand of the channel as 'Universal TV'. In August 2018, the Brazilian signal of Universal Channel was rebranded to Universal TV, with the Latin American variant following suit in October.
In 2021, SkyTV New Zealand and NBCUniversal had signed a multi-year deal allowing Sky to broadcast their new movies, programmes and content while also taking into effect their current catalogue.[9] Therefore, releasing Universal TV to New Zealand audiences as a part of Sky New Zealand’s Starter pack.
On April 30, 2015, Universal Channel was closed during technical problems, along with E!.[10]
| Channel | Country or region | Formerly | Launch year | Shutdown year |
| Universal TV | Latin America | USA Network (first era) | September 1, 2004 | |
| Universal Channel (Russian TV channel) | Russia | May 29, 2007 | April 30, 2015 | |
| Universal Channel (Romanian TV channel) | Romania | December 1, 2007 | ||
| Universal Channel (Polish TV channel) | Poland | December 31, 2017 | ||
| Universal Channel (Asian TV channel) | Asia | July 1, 2008 | July 1, 2017 | |
| Universal Channel (Greek TV channel) | Greece | May 7, 2009[11][note 1] | May 31, 2012 | |
| Cyprus | March 31, 2013 | |||
| Universal Channel (Turkish TV channel) | Turkey | December 17, 2009 | 2013 | |
| Universal Channel (South African TV channel) | South Africa | Hallmark Channel | March 24, 2010 | |
| Universal Channel (Japanese TV channel) | Japan | Sci Fi | April 1, 2010[12] | March 31, 2013 |
| Universal TV (Australian TV channel) | Australia | Hallmark Channel | July 1, 2010 | |
| Universal Channel (Eastern European TV channel) | Czech Republic, Slovakia | 3 September 2010 | July 30, 2016[13] | |
| Hungary | August 28, 2016 | |||
| Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia | September 1, 2016 (replaced by Diva Universal)[14][15] | |||
| Universal TV (British and Irish TV channel) | United Kingdom, Ireland | 18 October 2010 | 27 January 2020 (replaced by Sky Comedy) | |
| Universal TV (German TV channel) | Germany, Switzerland | September 5, 2013 | ||
| Universal TV (New Zealand) | New Zealand | April 30, 2021 |
Source:[18]
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