Challenge

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For other uses, see Challenge (disambiguation).
Challenge
Image:Challengelogo.PNG
Launched1 September, 1993
Owned byVirgin Media Television
Picture format4:3, 576i (SDTV)
Audience share0.3% (0.1% for +1)
(November 2007, [1])
Formerly calledThe Family Channel
(until February 1997),
Challenge TV
(until May 2002),
Challenge?
(until June 2003)
Timeshift serviceChallenge +1
Websitewww.challenge.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky DigitalChannel 124
Channel 125 (+1)
Cable
Virgin MediaChannel 152
Channel 153 (+1)
WightCableChannel 42/115

Challenge is a British digital TV channel owned by Virgin Media Television. Originally known as The Family Channel, and later as Challenge TV, the station relies heavily on gameshows taken from a variety of sources. Most are repeats of programmes acquired from the terrestrial channels' archives, but a few are original productions commissioned by Challenge itself.

The channel also has interactive features for digital cable and satellite viewers watching certain shows, enabling them to play along at home.

Challenge acquires programmes which have usually previously been shown on UK terrestrial channels.

Challenge now broadcasts 24 hours a day. In its early years, it timeshared with The Children's Channel and then later with TV Travel Shop. During this, Challenge would usually begin at 5pm and run until around midnight, with a teleshopping service filling up the early hours when both them and either TCC or TV Travel Shop weren't broadcasting.

Contents

[edit] History

Family channel come about in the UK in September 1993 when International Family Entertainment Inc. brought over TVS programme archive, in January of 1993. The Programme archive included a lot of US dramas which where included via MTM Enterprises. This meant that a lot of Programmes where available to be used for the channel, and also meant there owned the right to show which made it possible for New programmes like Family catchphrase.

In 1997 International Family Entertainment Inc. was sold to Fox, and in the UK the station and the sky slot was brought up by Flextech “Maidstone broadcasting” and re-branded as Challenge tv. which were brought over by Telewest, who were taken over by NTL, and we have now been taken over by Virgin and become Virgin Media TV.

[edit] Themed programming

In recent times Challenge has begun to theme its daily schedule. Gameshow repeats typically play in the daytime, action gameshows are shown in early evening, and now reality and casino-based programmes have been introduced late at night. This has drawn criticism to the channel but in return has attracted a whole new audience.[citation needed]

In late 2004 Challenge introduced the Gameshow Gods slot during weekday evenings, in which two vintage episodes hosted by well-known gameshow presenters such as Bob Monkhouse, Bruce Forsyth and Ted Rogers were shown each night. They would then be replaced with another two gameshows the following month. This re-introduced many gameshow favourites from years gone by.

In the summer of 2005 Challenge showed Old-School Saturdays, featuring popular Saturday-evening programmes of years gone by. This was followed in the autumn by Tea Time Takedown: popular action gameshows, namely The Crystal Maze and Gladiators, were shown in the early-evening slots on weekdays. This theme of programming continues at those times, albeit without the Teatime Takedown label.

From spring 2006 Challenge began a Quiz Frenzy on weekday afternoons, playing such quiz shows such as Fifteen to One.

In summer 2006 Challenge continued its line of themed programmes with Threesomes every weekend. Three classic gameshows such as Catchphrase and Family Fortunes were shown three times a day, back-to-back. This did take a break for a brief time shortly after its introduction but has recently been re-introduced.In March 2007 Fully Loaded was introduced showing double-bills of certain gameshows on weekday mornings. This also brought in the introduction of the short-lived ITV daytime show Cash Cab. Dale's Supermarket Sweep will be joining this line up from August 2007.

The next theme as from July 2007 is breakfast action showing RollerJam, The Crystal Maze and Fort Boyard on weekday mornings between 7am and 10am.

[edit] Player

On March 2 2006, Challenge's parent company Flextech Television launched a new channel called Player. Previously Challenge had aired a late-night block under the Player name (featuring gambling programmes such as Celebrity Poker Club, Casino Casino and the World Poker Tour), which was a great success.[citation needed] The new full-time Player channel used the same ident as Challenge's Player strand but in a different colour (from red to yellow). The channel was renamed Bravo 2 and has become a sister channel of Bravo rather than Challenge.

Player logo 2.JPG

Logo of the Player block on Challenge

Player logo 3.PNG

Logo of the Player channel

[edit] Programmes That Currently & Formerly Aired On Challenge

[edit] Presenters

[edit] Logos

Famlogo.jpg

The Family Channel (1993-1997)

Challenge TV.JPG

Challenge TV (1997-2002)

28185.png

Challenge? (2002-2003)

Challenge logo 2003-2004.png

Challenge (2003-2004)

Challenge logo.png

Challenge (2004-2006)

Challengelogo.PNG

Challenge (2006-present)

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Virgin Media Television
ChannelsAdult Swim • Bravo • Bravo 2 • Challenge • Living • Living2 • Trouble • Virgin 1 • Virgin Central •
Sit-Up TV (bid tv • price-drop tv • speed auction tv • Screenshop)
Joint VenturesSetanta Sports News1 • UKTV2 (UKTV Documentary • UKTV Drama • UKTV Food • UKTV Gardens • UKTV Gold • UKTV History • UKTV People • UKTV Style • Dave)
Defunct channelsThe Children's Channel • Ftn • SceneOne • Tiny Living • UK Horizons • UK Arena • Play UK • UKTV Bright Ideas • European Business News • Player
  1Setanta Sports News is a joint venture with Setanta Sports
  2Virgin Media Television own a 50% stake in UKTV with BBC Worldwide
Website: virginmediatv.co.uk
Retrieved from "http://wiki.smashits.com/wikipedia/Challenge"
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