Virgin 1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Virgin 1 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 1 October 2007 |
| Owned by | Virgin Media Television |
| Picture format | 16:9, 576i (SDTV) |
| Audience share | 0.5% (0.2% for +1) (April 2008, [1]) |
| Slogan | Proper Telly |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Replaced | Ftn |
| Sister channel(s) | Virgin Central |
| Timeshift service | Virgin 1+1 |
| Website | www.virgin1.co.uk |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 20 (18:00 - 06:00) |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | Channel 121 Channel 122 (+1) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media On Demand Content in |
Channel 122 Channel 123 (+1) Catch-Up TV On Demand TV Choice On Demand |
| UPC Ireland | Channel 129 |
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.
As of 3 June 2008 Virgin 1 is capable of widescreen (16:9) broadcasting which was rolled out across all Virgin owned channels.
Contents |
[edit] 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 0.8% 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 its highest ratings thus far, with the season premiere of Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles which secured a 4.2% share of multi channel viewers. [5]
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Programming
- See also: List of programmes broadcast by Virgin 1
The schedule for Virgin 1 currently consists of a mixture of American and British comedy, drama and factual programming. The channel is pitched between 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.
[edit] Current Programming
|
|
[edit] Coming soon
- Brits Behind Bars[11]
- Bunny Boiler & Proud[12]
- Cradle Snatcher & Proud[13]
- Gold Digger & Proud[14]
- Happy Birthday Viagra[15]
- Kinky & Proud[16]
- Love Rat & Proud[17]
- My Free Boobs[18]
- Room 101[19]
- Sex Maniac & Proud[20]
- Take Me To The Edge[21]
- The Sex Lives Of Twins[22]
[edit] Former programming
|
|
[edit] V Funny Sunday
V Funny Sunday was a programming block that aired on Sunday evenings which featured classic comedy from the United States. The block was thought to have taken inspiration from the US network Fox (owned by Sky One parent News Corp) which 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 24 February
|
[edit] Virgin 1 Website
| Virgin 1 Online | |
|---|---|
 |
|
 Virgin 1 website as of December 2007 |
|
| URL | www.virgin1.co.uk |
| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | Portal |
| Registration | Optional |
| Available language(s) | English |
| Owner | Virgin Media |
| Created by | Virgin Group |
| Launched | September 2007 |
| Current status | Active |
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.
[edit] References
- ^ "Virgin 1 Freeview channel to rival Sky One", Tech.co.uk, 11 June 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-04.
- ^ "Virgin Media Television announces Virgin 1", Virgin Media Press Office, 12 June 2007. Retrieved on 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Launch of Virgin 1 on Freeview", Freeview.co.uk. Retrieved on 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Virgin 1 launch date announced", Digital Spy, 18 September 2007. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
- ^ Terminator series gives Virgin 1 record audience - Brand Republic Login - Brand Republic
- ^ "Virgin reveals crime in paradise", C21Media, 10 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Virgin 1 acquires spy comedy 'Chuck'", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ "Virgin 1 to explore UK crime invasion", C21 Media, 24 August 2007. Retrieved on 2006-08-26.
- ^ "Virgin 1 looks at 'Extraordinary Humans'", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
- ^ "Virgin1 hustles BBCWW for shows", C21Media, 2 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ "V1 shows Tyson behind bars", C21Media, 22 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ "Virgin1 Commissions Doc Series", World Screen, 29 May 2008. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
- ^ "Virgin1 Commissions Doc Series", World Screen, 29 May 2008. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
- ^ "Virgin1 Commissions Doc Series", World Screen, 29 May 2008. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
- ^ "Virgin1 gets rude with Boobs, Viagra and Twins", C21Media, 7 May 2008. Retrieved on 2006-05-07.
- ^ "Virgin1 Commissions Doc Series", World Screen, 29 May 2008. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
- ^ "Virgin1 Commissions Doc Series", World Screen, 29 May 2008. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
- ^ "Virgin1 gets rude with Boobs, Viagra and Twins", C21Media, 7 May 2008. Retrieved on 2006-05-07.
- ^ "Virgin1 hustles BBCWW for shows", C21Media, 2 April 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ "Virgin1 Commissions Doc Series", World Screen, 29 May 2008. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
- ^ "Houlding on a high", The Cumberland News, 4 April 2008. Retrieved on 2006-04-14.
- ^ "Virgin1 gets rude with Boobs, Viagra and Twins", C21Media, 7 May 2008. Retrieved on 2006-05-07.
- ^ "Virgin Media gets inventive", C21Media, 7 February 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Virgin 1 to air new lottery", Broadcast, 5 December 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-06.
- ^ a b "October on Virgin 1", idigitalsales, 18 September 2007.
- ^ "Virgin 1 schedule (1 October)", Radio Times. Retrieved on 2007-09-19.
- ^ "Remarkable stories of individual bravery explored in Virgin1’s documentary series, Death Defying Rescues", Virgin Media TV. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ "Virgin 1 commissions Death Row Dogs", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Virgin 1 Week 51.pdf", idigitalsales.
- ^ "Virgin 1 to air 'cockumentary'", Digital Spy, 23 August 2007. Retrieved on 2006-08-24.
- ^ "Virgin 1 acquires music series", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2007-11-07.
[edit] External links
- Official Website
- Virgin Media Television
- The TV Room looks at presentation/branding on Virgin 1
|
|||||||||||||||||
