{{Short description|Australian pay television channel}} {{About|the channel in Australia and New Zealand|the network of television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland, also owned by BBC Studios|UKTV}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}} {{Infobox television channel | name = BBC UKTV | logo = BBC uktv logo.svg | logo_size = 160px | launch_date = August 1996<ref name=twitterlaunch /> | picture_format = 1080i HDTV | country = Australia | language = English | area = Australia<br/>New Zealand | former_names = UKTV (1996–2013) | sister_channels = {{ubl | BBC Brit | BBC Earth | BBC First | BBC Kids | BBC News | UKTV International | CBeebies }} | replaced = BBC HD (BBC UKTV HD) | timeshift_service = BBC UKTV +2 | owner = BBC Studios | website = {{Ubl | {{URL|https://bbcaustralia.com/channels/uktv}} | {{URL|https://bbcnewzealand.com/channels/uktv}} }} | online_serv_1 = Foxtel Go (AU) | online_chan_1 = Channel 105 | online_serv_2 = Fetch Mobi (AU) | online_chan_2 = Channel 112 | online_serv_3 = Binge (AU) | online_chan_3 = [http://www.binge.com.au binge.com.au] }} '''BBC UKTV''' is an Australian pay television channel in Australia and New Zealand, screening British entertainment programming, sourced mainly from the archives of the BBC, RTL Group (mainly Talkback Thames material) and ITV plc. The channel was originally a joint venture with Foxtel (60% ownership), the RTL Group (20% ownership) and BBC Worldwide (20% ownership). It is now owned solely by BBC Studios.
==History== The channel was first launched in Australia in August 1996,<ref name=twitterlaunch>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/uktvaustralia/status/4553850519|title=It was August 1996 when UK ... |author= UKTV (Australia and New Zealand) |publisher=Twitter|date=2 October 2009|access-date=8 February 2010}}</ref> becoming available on Austar in April 1999 and on Optus in December 2002.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = Illawarra Mercury | title = Best of the British Paytv| first = Denise | last = Everton | department = Applause | page = 11 | date = 2 April 1999 | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news990403_0102_5129}}</ref> A New Zealand version with different programming launched on Sky TV, in November 2003.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = Dominion Post | title = Best of British on SKY's UKTV Channel| page = 7 | date = 28 October 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | newspaper = The Sunday Star-Times | title = Best of British| first = Reed Megan| last = NICOL | page = 38 | date = 2 November 2003 }}</ref>
It shows a mix of repeats of old UK shows previously screened in Australia or New Zealand and new episodes of programs not shown before in either country. Repeated series include ''Doctor Who'', ''Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', ''Are You Being Served?'', ''Dad's Army'', ''Torchwood'', ''Torchwood Declassified'', ''The Jewel in the Crown'', ''Never the Twain'', ''The Sweeney'', and ''The Bill'' that have already been seen on free-to-air terrestrial television in Australia. New series include ''Shameless'', new episodes of popular soap operas ''Coronation Street'' and ''EastEnders'' and the original UK version of ''The Weakest Link'' which have not otherwise been screened in Australia.<ref>{{cite news | title = New Today for Dalley | first = Andrew | last = Conway | page = 2 | newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald | publisher = Fairfax Media | location = Sydney | date = 1 February 1999 | access-date = 10 February 2010 | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news990201_0264_8810 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120321004244/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news990201_0264_8810 | archive-date = 21 March 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref> UK soap opera ''Family Affairs'', which has never been screened on free-to-air Australian television, ran on UKTV from 1998 to 2007.<ref>{{cite news | title = Programs – Monday| first1 = Jim | last1 = Schembri| first2 = Paul | last2 = Harris| first3 = Paul | last3 = Kalina | page = 32 | newspaper = The Age Green Guide | publisher = Fairfax Media | location = Melbourne | date = 30 July 1998 | access-date = 16 January 2010 | url = http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=news980730_0235_9418}}</ref> In July 2006 UKTV began screening 2006 episodes of UK soap opera ''Emmerdale'' which had never before been screened in Australia.<ref>{{cite news |title = Symons: Marilyn Fisher was easy, cracking the UK wasn't |date = 22 June 2006 <!-- Australian Associated Press General News -->|agency = Australian Associated Press}}</ref>
As of April 2026, UKTV's episodes of ''EastEnders'' are currently five weeks behind the United Kingdom. ''Coronation Street'' and ''Emmerdale'' episodes are just over two weeks behind the original UK broadcasts.
In addition to British programming UKTV has repeated Australian soap operas ''Sons and Daughters'' and ''Prisoner'' which were both produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation (now owned by FremantleMedia). In both cases the entire series was shown; the ''Sons and Daughters'' repeat run was from 1997 until 2000 and ''Prisoner'' ran from 1997 until October 2004, ''Prisoner'' is now screening on 111 Hits from March 2011. It also screened the TVNZ soap opera ''Shortland Street'' for several years in the 1990s, after early episodes of that series had briefly been screened by SBS on free-to-air television in Australia.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=YdxdDek0-ZQC&dq=Shortland%20Street%20sbs&pg=PA152 ''The SBS Story: The Challenge of Diversity''], Ien Ang, Gay Hawkins, Lamia Dabboussy, UNSW Press, 2008, page 154</ref>
In Australia, UKTV, like all pay TV drama channels, is legally required to spend 10 per cent of its total program expenditure on funding new eligible (Australian and New Zealand) drama programs.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070925011550/http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD//pc%3DPC_91809 Australian content], Australian Communications and Media Authority, 25 September 2007</ref> Such productions include ''Changi'', ''Supernova'', ''Make or Break'' and ''False Witness''.
UKTV has separate services in Australia and New Zealand, partly to reflect different local tastes, but also for rights reasons, as many programmes are shown on free-to-air channels in New Zealand. For example, ''Coronation Street'' has been shown on TVNZ 1 for many years, while until May 2009, ''EastEnders'' was shown on Prime, before moving to UKTV.
On 1 July 2008 BBC Worldwide assumed full control of UKTV. BBC Worldwide previously had a 20 per cent stake in UKTV in a three way partnership with Foxtel and Fremantle Media. BBC Worldwide launched two new Australian channels, BBC Knowledge (documentary and non-fiction programming) and CBeebies (an advertising-free channel for 0 to six-year-olds) on 1 November 2008.<ref>[http://www.encoremagazine.com.au/articles/D2/0C057CD2.aspx?sc=269267 The Beeb takes over UKTV]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} – encore Magazine, ''25 June 2008''</ref>
On 3 October 2009 UKTV revealed a new logo, displaying that of the BBC, although its name remained unchanged.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=UKTVaustralia|author=UKTV Australia|number=4565872329|title=Today UKTV launches a brand new logo, and on-air look. Tune into Channel 103 for a taste.|date=2 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306071726/https://twitter.com/UKTVaustralia/status/4565872329|archive-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> On 15 November 2009 the channel launched an HD simulcast, replacing BBC HD.
In April 2013, the channel changed its logo and name to BBC UKTV.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brandingsource.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/new-look-bbc-uktv.html?m=0 |title=New look: BBC UKTV |publisher=The Branding Source |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=10 April 2013}}</ref>
On 1 July 2014, the HD simulcast closed, making the channel solely available in standard definition. This came prior to the launch of BBC First, which would use the HD feed formerly used by BBC UKTV. In addition, BBC UKTV changed subscription packages on Foxtel - moving from the Drama & Lifestyle add-on package to the basic Essential package increasing its reach.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|title=Foxtel Channel Changes|publisher=TV Tonight|date=2 July 2014|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/07/foxtel-channel-changes.html|access-date=2 July 2014}}</ref>
On 1 February 2015, BBC UKTV launched on Australian independent IPTV service Fetch TV, after they won the broadcast rights to BBC Worldwide.<ref name="Fetch TV">{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|title=Fetch TV adds BBC First|publisher=TV Tonight|date=9 December 2014|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2014/12/fetch-tv-adds-bbc-first.html|access-date=19 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Fetch TV2">{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Kevin|title=Big Blow for Foxtel as they Lose Exclusive Rights for Premium Drama Channel BBC First|publisher=Nelbie|date=9 December 2014|url=http://nelbie.com/kevmarl/2014/12/8/big-blow-for-foxtel-as-they-loose-exclusive-rights-for-premium-drama-channel-bbc-first|access-date=19 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219134256/http://nelbie.com/kevmarl/2014/12/8/big-blow-for-foxtel-as-they-loose-exclusive-rights-for-premium-drama-channel-bbc-first|archive-date=19 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
From 10 October 2016, the channel refreshed its logo and branding identity, to appeal to a younger audience and better distinguish its programming from the more premium offerings on sister channel BBC First.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/10/uktv-refreshes-in-bid-for-younger-viewers.html|title=UKTV refreshes in bid for younger viewers|date=6 October 2016|access-date=6 October 2016|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight}}</ref>
In September 2022, BBC Studios partnered with South African FTA broadcaster, OpenView HD, to launch the channel in the country. It will be available on Channel 114 as of 18 October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Colin |date=2022-09-29 |title=BBC UKTV to launch in South Africa |url=https://advanced-television.com/2022/09/29/bbc-uktv-to-launch-in-south-africa/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=BBC Studios channel first for South Africa |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2022/09/29/bbc-studios-channel-first-for-south-africa/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Broadband TV News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brzoznowski |first=Kristin |date=2022-09-29 |title=BBC Studios Launching Its First Free-to-View Channel in South Africa |url=https://worldscreen.com/tvmiddleeastafrica/bbc-studios-launching-its-first-free-to-view-channel-in-south-africa/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=TVMEA |language=en-US}}</ref>
On 15 August 2024, the HD simulcast will relaunch on Foxtel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Content Changes 2024 |url=https://help.foxtel.com.au/s/article/a7VMp0000006DPBMA2/content-changes-2024 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Foxtel}}</ref>
==Original programming== *''Changi'' (2001) (co-production with the ABC) * ''Supernova'' (2005-06) (co-production with BBC Two) * ''False Witness'' (2009) (co-production with BBC HD) *''Dripping in Chocolate'' (2012) *''Top of the Lake'' (2013–2017) (co-production with BBC Two and SundanceTV)
==Logo history== <gallery> File:UKTV original logo.svg | 1996–2009 File:UKTV logo.svg | 2009–2013 File:BBC UKTV.svg | 2013–2016 File:BBC uktv logo.svg | 2016 – present </gallery>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.bbcaustralia.com/channels/uktv BBC UKTV Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522182416/https://www.bbcaustralia.com/channels/uktv/ |date=22 May 2018 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150728025801/http://www.bbcnewzealand.com/channels/uktv/ BBC UKTV New Zealand]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bbc Uktv}} Category:Television networks in Australia Category:Television channels in New Zealand Category:International BBC television channels Category:Television channels and stations established in 1996 Category:English-language television stations in Australia Category:English-language television stations in New Zealand Category:1996 establishments in Australia Category:2003 establishments in New Zealand Category:BBC Worldwide Category:Former joint ventures