Arena (TV channel)

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox television channel | name = Arena | logo = Arena 2023.png | launch_date = 22 April 1995<ref name=xyzearly1995>{{cite news | title = Galaxy takes knife to fees | first = Rachel | last = Browne | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news950422_0197_2665 | newspaper = The Sun-Herald | publisher = Fairfax Media | location = Sydney, Australia | date = 22 April 1995 | page = 23 | access-date = 21 December 2009 | quote = XYZ Entertainment is launching the other four Galaxy channels today. They are a documentary channel Quest, children's and cult TV channel Max, general entertainment channel Arena and music channel Red.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://apro.techno.net.au/cepu/toa405.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224044738/http://apro.techno.net.au/cepu/toa405.htm |archive-date=24 December 2004 |title=CPEU:Australis Background |access-date=5 September 2009 }}</ref> | picture_format = 576i (SDTV 16:9)<br> 1080i (HDTV 16:9) | country = Australia | language = English | former_names = Arena (1995-2020, 2023-present)<br> Fox Arena (2020-2023) | timeshift_service = Arena +2 | owner = Foxtel Networks | sister_channels = Foxtel Networks channels | online_serv_1 = Foxtel Go | online_chan_1 = Channel 111 | online_serv_2 = Binge | online_chan_2 = [http://www.binge.com.au binge.com.au] }} '''Arena''' (formerly '''Fox Arena''') is an Australian general entertainment cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, and Optus Television's subscription platforms.

==History== {{Expand section|date=February 2010}} In the late 1990s, Arena had the slogan "The Art of Television". It ran a mix of programs, including UK serial ''Coronation Street'', and cult horror and science fictions films presented by Tabitha Clutterbuck. This included programs from E! prior to the launch of E! in Australia.

On 1 March 2001, it relaunched, with an added focus on talk shows and celebrity.<ref>{{cite news | title = New Arena for female viewers | first = Shane | last = Danielsen |date = 8 March 2001 | newspaper = The Australian | publisher = News Limited | location = Sydney, Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Arena's Soft Landing | first = Pam | last = Brown |date = 27 February 2001 | newspaper = The West Australian | publisher = West Australian Newspapers Limited | location = Perth, Australia}}</ref>

thumb|100px|left|2005 logo|alt=Arena

On 31 July 2005, its look was again updated, with a new logo and the new slogan, "Great TV Any time".<ref name=onthewing>{{cite news | last = Lee Lewes | first = Jacqeuline | title = A driving force | newspaper = The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) | location = Sydney, Australia | publisher = News Limited | date = 20 July 2005 }} </ref>

It was owned and operated by XYZnetworks until 1 October 2007, when management and programming were taken over by Foxtel,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2007/09/foxtel-takes-arena.html|title=Foxtel takes Arena | TV Tonight|first=Neil|last=says|date=21 September 2007}}</ref> with XYZ Networks still retaining ownership.

thumb|100px|left|2008-2020 Logo|alt=ArenaIn April 2008, Foxtel announced a partnership with Universal Networks International, where Arena would be re-branded as an Australian version of the American channel Bravo{{emdash}}featuring original series from the network, and adopting a variation of Bravo's branding and slogan, whilst retaining the previous Arena name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/category/ratings|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625141224/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/04/new-arena.html|url-status=dead|title=Ratings|archivedate=25 June 2008}}</ref>

On 1 June 2010, Arena TV switched from standard 4:3 to 16:9 widescreen programming. Many of Arena's programmes like ''Gilmore Girls'', ''Two and a Half Men'', ''How I Met Your Mother'' and ''One Tree Hill'' amongst other shows are originally presented in widescreen. Arena TV's switch to widescreen is part of Foxtel's plan to have every channel in widescreen by the end of 2010. left|thumb|100x100px|2020-2023 logo On 3 November 2014, Arena launched a HD feed. In addition, Arena + 2 moved from channel 154 to channel 151.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|title=BoxSets, Discovery Kids launch on Foxtel.|publisher=TV Tonight|date=3 November 2014|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/11/boxsets-discovery-kids-launch-on-foxtel.html|access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref>

On 1 July 2020, the channel rebranded as '''FOX Arena''' with a new logo and tagline ‘Live Out Loud.’<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/06/smooth-joins-axed-music-channels-arena-to-be-renamed.html/|title = Smooth joins axed music channels, Arena to be renamed. | TV Tonight| date=4 June 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2020/07/arena-rebrands-to-fox-arena.html|title = Arena rebrands to FOX Arena | TV Tonight| date=July 2020 }}</ref> The channel now operates as part of Foxtel's LifeStyle suite of television networks.

On 28 September 2023, the channel rebranded to its former name, "Arena", with a new logo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foxtel Magazine (October 2023) - Your monthly guide to a world of entertainment |url=https://www.foxtelmagazine.foxtel.com.au/#view=catalogue2&saleId=51890&page=33 |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Foxtel Magazine |page=32}}</ref>

==Slogans== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Slogan ! Year(s) |- | The Art of Television | 1995–2001 |- | Get Into It | 2001–2005 |- | Great TV Any Time | 2005–2008 |- | Watch What Happens | 2008–2020 |- |Live Out Loud |2020–present |}

===Former original programming=== *''Kate & Julia'' (2001–2016) *''A Day in the Life'' (2002–2015) *''Confidential'' (2007 on FOX8, 2008 on Arena) *''Erotic Star''<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Austin|title=Pole position|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/pole-position/2007/03/18/1174152858984.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 March 2007|access-date=21 January 2008}}</ref> (2007–2017) *''Park Street)'' (2011) *''Project Runway Australia'' (2008–2012) *''WAG Nation'' (2012) *''The Real Housewives of Melbourne'' (2014–2021) *''The Real Housewives of Sydney'' (2017, 2023–2025)

===Former syndicated programming=== *''2 Broke Girls'' *''24 Hour Catwalk'' *''99 - 1'' *''Alias'' *''All Saints'' *''The Amazing Race'' *''America's Next Top Model'' *''The Anna Nicole Show'' *''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' *''The Bachelor'' *''Bethenny'' *''Bethenny Getting Married'' *''Bridezillas'' *''Brookside'' *''Burn Notice'' *''Celebrity Apprentice'' *''Celebrity Name Game'' *''Chef Academy'' *''Coronation Street'' *''The Critic'' *''Days of Our Lives'' (2014–2020, now on 10 and 10Play)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/02/foxtel-to-fast-track-days-of-our-lives.html|title=Foxtel to fast-track Days of Our Lives|publisher=TV Tonight|last=Knox|first=David|date=2014-02-24|accessdate=2014-02-24}}</ref> *''Defying Gravity'' *''Desperate Housewives'' *''Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23'' *''Double Exposure'' *''The Dr. Oz Show'' *''Drop Dead Diva'' *''The Drew Carey Show'' *''Dukes of Melrose'' *''Duty Free'' *''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' *''ER'' *''Entourage'' *''Everwood'' *''The Fairly OddParents!'' *''Flipping Out'' *''Friends'' *''Ghost Whisperer'' *''Gilmore Girls'' *''Go Girls'' *''Grey's Anatomy'' *''The Guardian'' *''Hey Paula'' *''Hill Street Blues'' *''Hitched'' *''Hope & Faith'' *''How I Met Your Mother'' *''I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding'' *''The Insider'' *''In Loving Memory'' *''It's a Brad, Brad World'' *''Jerry Springer'' *''Joan of Arcadia'' *''Judge Judy'' *''Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List'' *''Katie'' *''Kids in the Hall'' *''King Leek'' *''The L Word'' *''The Late Show with David Letterman'' *''Latin Grammy Awards 2000'' *''Las Vegas'' *''Lie to Me'' *''Louie Spence's Showbusiness'' *''Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends'' *''Make Me a Supermodel'' *''Malcolm in the Middle'' *''Maniac Mansion'' *''The Manageress'' *''Marriage Boot Camp'' *''The Maury Povich Show'' *''Melrose Place'' *''Mike & Molly'' *''Million Dollar Listing New York'' *''The Millionaire Matchmaker'' *''Mob Wives'' *''Mob Wives Chicago'' *''The Nate Berkus Show'' *''Neon Rider'' *''The New Adventures of Old Christine'' *''The New Atlanta'' *''The New Normal'' *''Nip/Tuck'' *''NYC Prep'' *''The Oblongs'' *''The O.C.'' *''One Tree Hill'' *''Outrageous Fortune'' *''Outside Edge'' *''Paul Merton in Galton & Simpson's'' *''The People's Court'' *''Police Rescue'' *''The Price Is Right'' (US version) *''Property Envy'' *''Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'' *''The Rachel Zoe Project'' *''The Real Housewives of Auckland'' *''The Real Housewives of D.C.'' *''The Real Housewives of Dallas'' *''The Real Housewives of Vancouver'' *''Reba'' *''Rhoda'' *''Rita Rocks'' *''Road to Avonlea'' *''Robin of Sherwood'' *''Saturday Night Live'' *''Saving Hope'' *''The Secret Cabaret'' *''Secret Diary of a Call Girl'' *''Sex and the City'' *''Shahs of Sunset'' *''Shear Genius'' *''The Simple Life: Interns'' *''Six Feet Under'' *''The Sopranos'' *''Sorrell and Son'' *''Styled by June'' *''St. Elsewhere'' *''Suburgatory'' *''Super Dave'' *''Tabatha's Salon Takeover'' *''Tamra's OC Wedding'' *''Thintervention with Jackie Warner'' *''Tim Gunn's Guide To Style'' *''Top Chef: Just Desserts'' *''Top Chef Masters'' *''Top Design'' *''Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood'' *''Tru Calling'' *''True Tori'' *''Two and a Half Men'' *''The Tyra Banks Show'' *''Ugly Betty'' *''The Unit'' *''Urban Angel'' *''Valley of the Dolls'' *''The View'' *''Wahlburgers'' *''Weeds'' *''The West Wing'' *''Wheel of Fortune'' *''Will and Grace'' *''The Wire'' (moved from Fox8/Fox Arena)   *''Winners and Losers'' *''Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years'' *''Without a Trace'' *''Work Out'' *''The Young and the Restless'' (2014–2020, now on Foxtel One)

==References== <references />

Category:1995 establishments in Australia Category:English-language television stations in Australia Category:Television networks in Australia Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995 Category:Foxtel