UKTV to launch new channels

UKTV is to launch two factual channels – UKTV Documentary and UKTV People – to replace UK Horizons.

It is also rebranding all of its channels to include the full name of the broadcaster, so that it is immediately obvious that they are part of the same network. The changes will take effect from March 8, and will result in UK Gold becoming UKTV Gold.

The network’s UK Horizons channel will come off air and be replaced with UKTV Documentary, which will be broadcast from 9am to 3am and provide a showcase for documentaries about Britain and factual programming – there will also be a time-shift version of UKTV Documentary. UKTV People, a channel aimed at men and featuring popular factual entertainment focused on cars, crime and comedy-based factual programmes, such as Louis Theroux, will be broadcast from 7pm through to 3am.

UKTV chief executive Dick Emery says: “Ongoing development means a constant review of our channel line-up. Our ultimate aim is to offer the best possible choice to our viewers – the right programme for the right audience at the right time.”

UKTV is also making changes to its break junctions from March 8. They will be shortened to a maximum of five minutes, with limits on commercial minutage of three-and-a-half minutes and on promotional minutage of one-and-a-half minutes. In the past a standard break junction on one of UKTV’s channels would have lasted about seven minutes. The one exception will be UKTV Drama, where programmes last at least an hour and the breaks will be shortened to two minutes.