Bravo (UK TV channel)

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This article is about the UK channel. For other uses, including the unrelated American TV network and Canadian TV channel, see Bravo.
Bravo
Launched 1985
Owned by Virgin Media Television
Picture format 16:9, 576i (SDTV)
Audience share 0.2% (0.1 for +1)
(April 2008, [1])
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Sister channel(s) Bravo 2
Timeshift service Bravo +1
Website bravo.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky Digital Channel 123
Channel 124 (+1)
Channel 154 (2)
Cable
Virgin Media

On Demand Content in		 Channel 137
Channel 138 (+1)
Channel 139 (2)
Catch-Up TV On Demand
TV Choice On Demand
Bravo HD On Demand
UPC Ireland Channel 508
Channel 509 (+1)
WightCable Channel 83/116

Bravo is a British television channel, owned by Virgin Media Television. Its target audience is currently men in their late twenties to early forties and shows a variety of both archive programming (such as Knight Rider & MacGyver) and original productions.

It has undergone many transformations since it began broadcasting as a channel for mainly black & white programmes from the 1950s and 1960s such as The Avengers and many ITC Entertainment productions. A policy change to withdraw all of their black & white shows soon saw them move on to specialise in science fiction and horror before becoming known for showing crime documentaries by day and adult programming at night. Since then it has decreased the adult content and increased sports and imported shows like Alias. Bravo also aired World Championship Wrestling's flagship show Nitro during WCW's final year in business and also showed Extreme Championship Wrestling's flagship show Hardcore TV during ECW's final year in business.

On August 28, 2005, the channel started showing Serie A Italian football, bringing back the Channel 4 format Football Italia. However, poor viewing figures saw Bravo cancel first the weekly Gazetta Football Italia show, then announce it would stop showing Italian Football altogether after 23 December 2006 (it has since been taken up by Five). The channel's other highest-profile sports coverage is its exclusive UK rights to Ultimate Fighting Championship archives as well as recent events (live rights are now held by Setanta Sports), as well as related reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter. The network airs an Adult Swim block nightly at around midnight. Recently the channel has acquired rights to show Blade: The Series, and The Kill Point.

From January 2007 Bravo's sister channel Bravo 2 had the exclusive UK rights to broadcast Total Nonstop Action wrestling programming which consisted of only a two day delay from the American broadcast of the TNA weekly show "TNA iMPACT!" and a three day delay for the TNA Monthly Pay Per Views.[1] Since January 5th 2008 TNA iMPACT! was moved to Bravo, with replays of the show on Bravo 2. .[2] Bravo's contract with TNA Wrestling Programming is an 18 month contract and was distributed by RDA TV.[3] As of 2008, TNA iMPACT! is shown on Bravo, instead of Bravo 2, at the same timeslot.

As of Tuesday the 3rd of June 2008, Bravo along with all other Virgin owned channels have become widescreen (16:9) capable. This is coupled with a redesign of the on-screen graphic (the words BRAVO are shown as opposed to the logo).

Contents

[edit] Programming

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)
Main article: List of programmes broadcast by Bravo

[edit] Current programming

[edit] Coming Soon

[edit] Former programming

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bravo 2 Gets TNA. Retrieved on 2006-12-29.
  2. ^ TNAs message on iMPACT! move to Bravo. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
  3. ^ Details regarding Bravo's deal with TNA Wrestling programming. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Virgin Media Television
Channels
Joint Ventures
Defunct channels
  1Setanta Sports News is a joint venture with Setanta Sports
  2Virgin Media Television own a 50% stake in UKTV with BBC Worldwide
Website: virginmediatv.co.uk