As Hallmark Channel The channel launched in October 1999 and was previously owned by the privately backed
Sparrowhawk Media Group, until late 2007 when it was bought out by NBCUniversal. It previously licensed programming and branding from
Crown Media Holdings, and was previously known as the
Hallmark Entertainment Network and the Hallmark Channel (Crown Media had sold off their international assets in 2005). Coinciding with the launch of Hallmark Channel HD, Hallmark Channel became
16:9 widescreen capable on 28 June 2010.
As Universal Channel In June 2009, a memorandum leaked to the television trade newspaper
Broadcast stated that NBC Universal planned to rebrand the Hallmark Channel as a
Universal Channel in October 2009. The "Hallmark Channel" brand was licensed to NBC Universal from
Crown Media (which operates the US
Hallmark Channel) and was due to expire. An NBC Universal spokesperson denied such a rebrand would happen. On 2 September 2010, Universal Networks International confirmed plans to rebrand the Hallmark Channel as the Universal Channel in the UK. On 18 October, the pay-TV channel and its timeshift and high definition variants became the Universal Channel, Universal Channel +1 and Universal Channel HD. The Universal Channel gave UK premieres to cop show
Rookie Blue and legal drama
Fairly Legal in early 2011. It also aired
Shattered, which stars
Callum Keith Rennie as a homicide detective suffering from multiple personality disorder. On 1 December 2010, Universal Channel launched a specific feed which targets Ireland. Universal Channel in Ireland airs localised advertising. The Irish feed does not include
subtitles.
TV3 act as the Irish variation's advertising sales agents. On 31 July 2013, Universal Channel unveiled a refreshed branding and new slogan it launched on 5 August, "100% Characters". The brand reflected "that great characters are the magnets that draw viewers back to their favourite shows - week after week".
As Universal TV On 3 May 2018, NBCUniversal unveiled a new name and branding for its Universal Channel chain,
Universal TV, launching first on the United Kingdom feed. The rebranding was intended to make the network a "destination brand that celebrates world-class, high-quality, character-driven content".
Closure In December 2019,
BT TV announced that Universal TV would be leaving the UK market along with
VH1 and that the channel will close. The channel closed down its operations on 27 January 2020, with
Sky Comedy taking its place on EPG guides. ==Programming==