U (TV channel)

Last updated

U
U TVNZ.svg
TVNZ U Logo
Country New Zealand
Broadcast areaNational
Headquarters Auckland, New Zealand
Programming
Picture format 16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Ownership
Owner TVNZ
Sister channels
History
Launched13 March 2011 (2011-03-13) [1]
Replaced TVNZ 6
Closed31 August 2013 (2013-08-31)
Replaced by TV2+1
Links
Website TVNZ U website, http://www.facebook.com/tvnzu
Availability
Terrestrial
DVB 64-QAM on band IV

U was an interactive youth-oriented New Zealand television channel, owned and operated by TVNZ. The channel launched on 13 March 2011, and featured reality programming, as well as an interactive live show and music content. It replaced the now defunct TVNZ 6. Leading up to the launch of U, there were 13 days' worth of promotional videos and programming information aired to advertise the new channel.

Contents

Initially, U closed down every night at midnight, playing the Goodnight Kiwi animation to signal the end of nightly broadcast. During its closedown period of 12-midnight to 12-noon, the channel looped a video of non-stop dancing with text reading U 'returns at midday'.

From February 2012, the channel began broadcasting infomercials from midnight until midday, except on Saturday and Sunday mornings, when it is illegal to broadcast adverts. [2] On Saturday and Sunday, the channel closes down as usual, with infomercials played until 6am, a graphic is displayed from 6am until midday, and then the broadcast 'returns at midday'.

In April 2013, the channel launched U Late, a late night version of its flagship programme U Live , but without the music videos. It was described as late night antics and chat, live and interactive every evening.

On 29 July 2013, TVNZ announced that U would cease broadcast on 31 August 2013, after two years since the channel launch.

Pre-launch

In preparation of the launch of U, TVNZ established a Facebook page for their new channel, giving fans information and offering one person the chance to schedule a selected segment of programming on the new channel for a month (known as U TV). On the evening of 28 February 2011, TVNZ 6 was officially shut down, allowing TVNZ to air promotional material for the new channel. At 3 pm on 9 March 2011, TVNZ activated its U Live application on Facebook, [3] which, upon the launch of the channel, would allow users to share content and have it displayed as part of the U Live TV show.

Launch

U was launched on 13 March 2011 at 4 pm on Freeview channel 6 and Sky channel 16. The first program to air was U Live. [4]

Closure

TVNZ closed U on 31 August 2013 at 7 pm after two years running at a loss. TVNZ announced that time-shift channel TV2+1 would launch to replace the channel on 1 September 2013 at 7 am. The final show to screen on U was U Live with the entire crew giving a farewell message, the final song to play on U Live was "2 Times" by Ann Lee. After the end credits for U Live, a message was displayed on the U channel advising viewers of the new channel number for TV One +1 and TV2+1 (now TVNZ 1 +1 and TVNZ 2 +1 respectively). The channel numbers vary for viewers of Sky, Freeview and Igloo. [5]

U Live

The flagship show of U was U Live, a live show which aired 4pm – 7pm daily. The show featured music, interviews, and other general interest content. Viewers were invited to participate via a Facebook application, where they could vote in polls, take part in discussions, and view the show via a live commercial and graphic free stream. Comments and polls were then selected and displayed on screen during broadcast. U Live was hosted by Rose Matafeo, Connor Nestor, Matt Gibb, Eli Matthewson and former George FM breakfast host Kirsteen MacKenzie. U Live drew many parallels to TVNZ's rival network MediaWorks' youth-oriented show Four Live , which aired on FOUR.

U's themed nights

U had themed programming for the different days of the week, with each theme having a distinctive title. Selected programming available on each night is listed below.

DayThemeShows
Monday"Guts Monday"BMX Road Fools; Airtime; Speeders Specials; Homegrown Maniacs
Tuesday"Dude Tuesday"The Cool Guy Files; Rhett And Link – Commercial Kings; Tough Guy Or Chicken?
Wednesday"Pash Wednesday" The Shire; Tough Love – New Orleans
Thursday"Girl Thursday" Made in Chelsea; Sorority Girls; Big Rich Texas
Friday"Knock Out Friday"The Exclusives; Real World – Road Rules
Saturday"U Again Saturday"Repeated programming
Sunday"U Go Sunday"Travelling Unplugged; Roam; Ultimate Traveller; Amazing Adventures of a Nobody

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ</span> New Zealand state-owned television network

Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a television network that is broadcast throughout New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. All of its currently-operating channels are free-to-air and commercially funded.

Three, stylized as +HR=E, is a New Zealand nationwide television channel. Launched on 26 November 1989 as TV3, it was New Zealand's first privately owned television channel. The channel currently broadcasts nationally in digital free-to-air form via the state-owned Kordia on terrestrial and satellite. Vodafone also carries the channel for their cable subscribers in Wellington and Christchurch. It previously broadcast nationally on analogue television until that was switched off on 1 December 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ftn (TV channel)</span> Defunct British television channel

FTN was a television channel owned by Virgin Media Television. The channel's main purpose was to exist as a highlights network for Flextech to showcase Freeview viewers the programmes from their paid channels, although it also aired its own programming.

In broadcast programming, dayparting is the practice of dividing the broadcast day into several parts, in which a different type of radio programming or television show appropriate for that time period is aired. Television programs are most often geared toward a particular demography, and what the target audience typically engages in at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prime (New Zealand TV channel)</span> New Zealand free-to-air television network

Prime is a New Zealand free-to-air television network. It airs a varied mix of programming, largely imported from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C4 (New Zealand TV channel)</span> New Zealand television channel

C4 was a New Zealand television channel owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand. C4 was available on both digital terrestrial and satellite platforms and played music around the clock, including from their radio side from The Rock, The Edge, The Breeze, More FM, George FM, Mai FM & The Sound. C4 also aired a lot of speciality music shows such as HomeGrown, Top 10/100, Video Hits, Fade To Black, Steel Mill and Biggest Records Right Now. The channel was originally launched in October 2003 as a re-branding of TV4 which had been broadcasting since 1997. On 1 May 2010, as C4 had been moving away from music programming since 2008, the jukebox side was split off and C4 launched a second C4 channel on Channel 9 called C4 2. C4 2 was only available on digital Freeview terrestrial and satellite platforms. At the end of 2010 an announcement was made that MediaWorks would again re-brand the current C4 channel as FOUR, which meant C4 2 would be converted to a music show as C4 was moved to its Channel 9 position. C4 shut down on Thursday 26 June 2014 at 01:00 am. It was replaced by The Edge TV the next day on Friday 27 June 2014 at 04:00 pm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More4</span> British free-to-air television channel

More4 is a British free-to-air television channel, owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel launched on 10 October 2005. Its programming mainly focuses on lifestyle and documentaries, as well as foreign dramas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 1</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 1 is the first national television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ). It is the oldest television broadcaster in New Zealand, starting out from 1960 as independent channels in the four main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, networking in 1969 to become NZBC TV. The network was renamed Television One in 1975 upon the break-up of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, and became a part of TVNZ in 1980 when Television One and South Pacific Television merged. The channel assumed its current name in October 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babestation</span> British adult television channel

Babestation is an adult chat television channel and programme block which has aired on television in the United Kingdom since 2002. Since 2015, Babestation has also had a complementary website that includes more options than those available on the TV channel. The television version was the first show of its kind in the UK allowing viewers to communicate live with female presenters via a premium-rate telephone number or text messaging. It is broadcast daily, and since 2006 has had a dedicated channel on Sky. Its sister stations and websites are more hardcore in nature but the main programme shown on TV is also streamed on the Internet via the Babestation websites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 2</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 2 is the second New Zealand television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ). It targets a younger audience than its sister channel, TVNZ 1. TVNZ 2's line up consists of dramas, comedies, and reality TV shows. A small number are produced in New Zealand which are either of a comedic, soap opera or reality nature, with rest of the line-up taken from international catalogues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTV (New Zealand TV channel)</span> Television channel

MTV New Zealand was a 24-hour general television entertainment channel operated by MTV Networks International. The channel launched on 18 August 2006. From its launch MTV New Zealand employed 23 people at its headquarters in Auckland. MTV New Zealand was replaced with MTV Australia on 30 November 2010 while still retaining localised advertising and website for New Zealand. As of November 2011, MTV.co.nz redirects viewers to MTV.com.au.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 7</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 7 was a commercial-free New Zealand 24-hour news and information channel on Freeview digital television platform and on Sky Television from 1 July 2009. It was produced by Television New Zealand, which received Government funding to launch two additional channels. The channel went to air just after 10 am on 25 March 2008 with a looped preview reel. The channel was officially launched at noon on 30 March 2008 with a special "kingmaker" political debate held within the Parliament building and featuring most of the elected minor party leaders. The channel went off air at midnight on 30 June 2012 to the Goodnight Kiwi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JML Direct TV</span> Series of British television shopping channels owned by John Mills Limited

JML Direct TV is a television shopping channel owned by JML Direct Limited that mainly broadcasts infomercials featuring various products from the company. The channel is broadcast on Sky and Freesat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 6</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 6 was a digital-only, commercial-free television channel operated by Television New Zealand. It launched in September 2007, and was available in 60.3% of New Zealand homes on the Freeview and SKY Television Digital platforms. TVNZ 6 was on air daily from 6am to midnight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC Alba</span> BBCs Scottish Gaelic language TV channel

BBC Alba is a Scottish Gaelic-language free-to-air public broadcast television channel jointly owned by the BBC and MG Alba. The channel was launched on 19 September 2008 and is on-air for up to seven hours a day with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal simulcasts. The name Alba is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. The station is unique in that it is the first channel to be delivered under a BBC licence by a partnership and was also the first multi-genre channel to come entirely from Scotland with almost all of its programmes made in Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CBBC</span> British free-to-air childrens television channel

CBBC is a British free-to-air public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6–12. Its sister channel, CBeebies, is aimed at younger children aged 6 and under. It broadcasts every day from 7am to 7pm, timesharing with BBC Three.

Freeview is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the United Kingdom. The service was launched at 5 am on 30 October 2002 and is jointly operated by its five equal shareholders – BBC, ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB and transmitter operator Arqiva. This article documents the history of the Freeview service, from its inception up to the present.

Gemporia is a British television and online retailer, licensed by Ofcom under the Gems TV name. The channel is mostly concerned with selling jewellery with a few lifestyle products from the homeware and beauty categories promoted in various slots across the schedule. The channel is available on Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat, Freeview and online. The channel operations are based at Eagle Road Studios in Redditch, near Birmingham. As of February 2023, the channel broadcast 24 hours a day, live between the hours of 07:00-23:00 on television, via the GEMPORIA mobile app, and online at gemporia.com. The business derives from Gems TV in Thailand.

Eden is a privately owned, national free-to-air television channel in New Zealand and has been on air since 2012. The channel features programs on topics such as: lifestyle, news, travel, reality, movies, entertainment, comedy, game shows and drama. The channel and its sister network HGTV New Zealand were acquired by Discovery, Inc. in 2019. On 21 March 2022, Choice TV was rebranded as Eden. Also, on 21 March 2022 Eden+1 was launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Shopping Channel (New Zealand TV channel)</span> New Zealand TV channel

The Shopping Channel is a New Zealand 24/7 Infomercial channel which is broadcast on Sky satellite. The company was founded in 2010 and went live on 1 October 2012.

References

  1. "U - Freeview 6 / Sky 16". TVNZ . Archived from the original on 13 October 2012.
  2. Horrocks, Roger (April 2009). "History of TV – NZ On Screen" . Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  3. "U Live App Launch on Facebook". Facebook . 9 March 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  4. "The new TVNZ U guide". Throng. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011.
  5. Ulive Final Episode 8/31/2013 on YouTube