UKTV Play

Last updated

UKTV Play
Original author(s) UKTV
Developer(s) UKTV
Initial release4 August 2014;9 years ago (2014-08-04)
Operating system Windows, OS X
Platform iOS, Android, YouView, Virgin Media, Now
Available inEnglish
Website uktvplay.co.uk

UKTV Play is a video on demand service owned by BBC Studios, launched in August 2014. The service offers catch-up programming from UKTV's free-to-air channels, which are Dave, Drama, W and Yesterday. [1]

Contents

History

UKTV Play was first announced in June 2014. [2] The service first launched on iOS in August, on PC, YouView and Virgin Media in November [3] and on Android in February 2015. [4] In addition, it launched on Freeview Play in August 2016, [5] on Roku and Now in February 2018, [6] and on Freesat and Samsung smart TVs in September 2018. [7]

Following the addition of W to UKTV's free-to-air packages, the shows from the channel became available to watch for free on UKTV Play.

In August 2023, UKTV launched four FAST channels utilising the UKTV Play brand and content on platforms including Samsung TV Plus and Pluto TV. [8]

Since December 2023, UKTV and the UKTV Play brand are owned by BBC Studios. [9]

In November 2023, UKTV announced that UKTV Play would be renamed to U as a part of a rebrand of the UKTV network, [10] with the new name being planned to launch on 16 July 2024. [11]

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References

  1. Finbow, Katy (31 March 2015). "Drama channel launches on UKTV Play on-demand service". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  2. Alexander, Susannah (23 June 2014). "UKTV launching first interactive digital service UKTV Play". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. Barker, John (21 November 2014). "UKTV Play arrives on YouView and PC". Broadband Choices. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. "UKTV Play app launches on Android". Digital TV Europe. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  5. "UKTV Play launches on Freeview Play | Freeview". www.freeview.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  6. "UKTV Play launches on NOW TV and Roku streaming players | News | UKTV Corporate Site". corporate.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  7. "UKTV Play launches on Freesat | News | UKTV Corporate Site". corporate.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  8. Broadband TV News, 2023-08-23
  9. Middleton, Richard (29 November 2023). "UKTV channels and streaming service to rebrand under new banner U" . Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  10. Kasule, Melissa (6 June 2024). "UKTV to launch masterbrand U on July 16" . Retrieved 12 June 2024.