Pay television channel
Television channel
Universal TV
, formerly
Universal Channel
, is an international
pay television
network specializing in movies and television series in the
thriller
,
drama
,
comedy
,
horror
,
crime
and investigation genres, owned by
NBCUniversal International Networks
, a division of
NBCUniversal
and available on satellite and cable platforms. They were formerly branded as
USA Network
until 2003 when the name was changed to take more advantage of the Universal branding, but continue programming as that network does like a general interest network.
Launched in other countries
[
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]
Original launch
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]
Universal Channel was officially launched on 1 September 2004 in
Latin America
,
[2]
then it launched on 1 December 2007 in
Poland
(as
Kanał Universal
) and
Romania
(as
Canalul Universal
)
[3]
[1]
and on 1 July 2008 in Southeast Asia.
Re-branded in selected countries
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In
South Africa
,
Hallmark Channel
was re-branded under that name on 24 March 2010 for
DStv
subscribers. In
Japan
,
Sci Fi Channel
re-branded to that name on 1 April 2010.
[4]
In
Australia
,
Hallmark Channel
re-branded to that name on 1 July 2010.
[5]
In
Hungary
,
Czech Republic
,
Slovakia
and ex
Yugoslav
countries
Serbia
,
Croatia
and
Bosnia and Herzegovina
,
Hallmark Channel
was re-branded to that name on 3 September 2010.
[6]
[7]
And in the Philippines, this channel was launched on 26 July 2010 and replaced the
Sci Fi Channel
which was rebranded as
Universal Channel
.
On 18 October 2010, the
Hallmark Channel
in the UK and Ireland was rebranded, adopting the Universal Channel name.
[8]
The UK version closed on 27 January 2020. On 3 May 2018, starting with the UK, they have begun the global rebrand of the channel as 'Universal TV'. In August 2018, the Brazilian signal of Universal Channel was rebranded to Universal TV, with the Latin American variant following suit in October.
Universal TV’s Launch in New Zealand
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]
In 2021, SkyTV New Zealand and NBCUniversal had signed a multi-year deal allowing Sky to broadcast their new movies, programmes and content while also taking into effect their current catalogue.
[9]
Therefore, releasing Universal TV to New Zealand audiences as a part of Sky New Zealand’s Starter pack.
Universal Channel and E!’s Closure in Russia
[
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]
On April 30, 2015, Universal Channel was closed during technical problems, along with E!.
[10]
Universal Channels around the world
[
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]
Channel
|
Country or region
|
Formerly
|
Launch year
|
Shutdown year
|
Universal TV
|
Latin America
|
USA Network
(first era)
|
September 1, 2004
|
|
Universal Channel (Russian TV channel)
|
Russia
|
|
May 29, 2007
|
April 30, 2015
|
Universal Channel (Romanian TV channel)
|
Romania
|
December 1, 2007
|
Universal Channel (Polish TV channel)
|
Poland
|
December 31, 2017
|
Universal Channel (Asian TV channel)
|
Asia
|
July 1, 2008
|
July 1, 2017
|
Universal Channel (Greek TV channel)
|
Greece
|
May 7, 2009
[11]
[note 1]
|
May 31, 2012
|
Cyprus
|
March 31, 2013
|
Universal Channel (Turkish TV channel)
|
Turkey
|
December 17, 2009
|
2013
|
Universal Channel (South African TV channel)
|
South Africa
|
Hallmark Channel
|
March 24, 2010
|
October 31, 2026
|
Universal Channel (Japanese TV channel)
|
Japan
|
Sci Fi
|
April 1, 2010
[12]
|
March 31, 2013
|
Universal TV (Australian TV channel)
|
Australia
|
Hallmark Channel
|
July 1, 2010
|
|
Universal Channel (Eastern European TV channel)
|
Czech Republic
,
Slovakia
|
3 September 2010
|
July 30, 2016
[13]
|
Hungary
|
August 28, 2016
|
Serbia
,
Croatia
,
Slovenia
|
September 1, 2016 (replaced by
Diva Universal
)
[14]
[15]
|
Universal TV (British and Irish TV channel)
|
United Kingdom
,
Ireland
|
18 October 2010
|
27 January 2020 (replaced by
Sky Comedy
)
|
Universal TV (German TV channel)
|
Germany
,
Switzerland
|
|
September 5, 2013
|
|
Universal TV (New Zealand)
|
New Zealand
|
April 30, 2021
|
|
Programmes
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Latin America
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Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia
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]
Source:
[18]
South Africa
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]
United Kingdom
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See also
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Notes
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- ^
On this reference, and other secondary sources like
this one
or
this another one
, I read Universal Channel launched in Greece on May 7, 2009, but checking out on
the official website
I read the channel launched on May 5, 2008.
References
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]
External links
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Asia
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Australia & New Zealand
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Europe, Middle East and Africa
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Latin America
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Defunct
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