N&S to launch UK porn channel

Northern & Shell, UK publisher of Penthouse, is to launch its own porn channel, TVX, on June 2, following a deal to share the UK Living transponder on the Astra satellite.

The publisher has pre-empted Playboy Enterprises which earlier this month confirmed plans to launch its own UK channel in partnership with Flextech and BSkyB later this year.

Both will enter a niche market expected to expand rapidly. The Adult Channel, which shares the Bravo transponder, will also be joined by Babylon Blue, a channel planned by Sunday Sport publisher David Sullivan.

TVX will be broadcast – scrambled – each night from 12am to 4am after UK Living goes off air. It will be a mix of porn films and exotic new shows.

The channel is expected to cost subscribers about 7 a month. Subscription will be managed by BSkyB’s subscriber centre.

Channel representatives have already begun visiting agencies with a sales presentation.

UK Living is understood to be keen to play down its deal with N&S. It is believed to have struck the deal after inviting a number of parties to bid for the transponder space, and then chosen the highest bidder.

Although the terms of the arrangement are understood to be both lucrative and long-term, sources insist: “It is simply the sub-leasing of transponder space, and nothing more.”

UK Living, owned by TCI, Cox and Pearson, will be clearly branded on air as a distinctly separate service to TVX.

All channels broadcasting in the UK must be licensed by the Independent Television Commission and abide by its guidelines. These prohibit hard core porn, but allow “softer” content.

“We can’t refuse a license if the applicant is fit and proper,” says an ITC spokeswoman.

Neither N&S nor UK Living were available for comment at press time.