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
Original launch
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
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.
Launch in New Zealand
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.
Closure in Russia
On April 30, 2015, Universal Channel was closed due to financial problems in the Russian market, along with E!.[10]
Universal Channels around the world
Programmes
Latin America
- Almost Paradise[18]
- Bates Motel
- Blue Bloods[18]
- Beauty & the Beast
- Brothers & Sisters[19]
- The Cape[19]
- Chicago Fire[18]
- Chicago Med[18]
- Chicago P.D.
- Dalziel & Pascoe
- Elementary
- The Event[19]
- Family Law[18]
- FBI[18]
- FBI: International[18]
- FBI: Most Wanted[18]
- The Good Wife[19]
- Grimm
- House[19]
- Law & Order[19]
- Law & Order: LA[19]
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit[19]
- The Librarians
- Magnum P.I.[18]
- Psych[19]
- The Rookie[18]
- Rookie Blue[19]
- Stalker
- Surviving Suburbia
- Walker, Texas Ranger
- Worst Week
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia
Source:[20]
- Being Erica
- Blue Bloods
- Brothers & Sisters
- Clara Sheller
- Diagnosis: Murder
- ER
- Foyle's War
- Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files
- Fairly Legal
- Foyle's War
- The Good Wife
- The Guardian
- Haven
- Hawaii Five-0
- Judging Amy
- Law & Order
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent
- Life Is Wild
- McLeod's Daughters
- Medium
- Midsomer Murders
- Miss Marple
- Monk
- Nash Bridges
- Psych
- The Real Housewives of New York City
- The Real Housewives of Orange County
- Rookie Blue
- Royal Pains
- Salem's Lot
- Scandal
- Sea Patrol
- The Sentinel
- Shattered
- Three Rivers
- Who Do You Think You Are?
South Africa
- Being Erica[21]
- Bones[22]
- Bosch[22]
- Chicago Med[22]
- Chicago P.D.[22]
- Cold Case[22]
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation[22]
- CSI: Cyber[22]
- CSI:NY[22]
- Dark Matter[22]
- The Detail
- Flashpoint[23]
- House[24]
- Law & Order[24]
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent[24]
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit[24]
- The Librarians
- Men in Trees[25]
- The Mentalist
- Monk[26]
- NCIS[24]
- NCIS: New Orleans[24]
- Numb3rs[27]
- Psych[27]
- Ransom
- Rizzoli & Isles[27]
- Rookie Blue[27]
- Second Chance[27]
- Taxi Brooklyn[27]
- Two and a Half Men[27]
- Unforgettable[27]
- Wild at Heart
United Kingdom
- Acceptable Risk
- Bates Motel
- Burden of Truth
- Chance
- Chicago Justice
- Chicago Med
- CSI: Miami
- CSI: NY
- Condor
- Coroner
- Departure
- The Disappearance
- Gone
- How to Get Away with Murder
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- Major Crimes
- Motive
- Mr. Robot
- The Murders
- NCIS
- Private Eyes
- Proven Innocent
- Pure Genius
- Ransom
- The Resident
- Rookie Blue
- Royal Pains
- Second Chance
- Sleepy Hollow
See also
- Universal TV (UK and Ireland)
- Universal Channel (Asia)
- Universal TV (Australia)
- Universal Channel (Greece)
- Universal Channel (Japan)
- Universal TV (New Zealand)
- Universal TV (Turkey)
External links
References
- Televiziunea americană Universal Channel se retrage din România Mediafax.ro, April 2015, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Universal Channel realizó presentación en Buenos Aires PRODU.COM, 2004-08-20, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Marcin Jaśkaczek. UNIVERSAL WCHODZI NA POLSKI RYNEK Hi-Fi Class, 2007-11-14, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Universal Channel launches in Japan OnScreenAsia.com, 2010-04-05, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- David Knox. Hallmark switch to Universal Channel TV Tonight, 2010-05-28, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Kardos Attila. Hallmark helyett Universal Channel - sat-tv-radio sat-tv-radio.hu, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Slobodna Dalmacija - Hallmark Channel postaje Universal Channel slobodnadalmacija.hr, 2010-09-02, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Andrew Laughlin. Hallmark Channel to rebrand as Universal Digital Spy, 2010-09-02, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Sky and NBCUniversal sign extensive multi-year deal - Sky www.sky.co.nz, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- NBCUniversal to Shutter Pay TV Channels in Russia sg.news.yahoo.com, 23 January 2015, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- В рамках стратегического развития NBC Universal Global Networks телеканалы SCI FI и Universal начинают свое вещание в России www.sostav.ru, retrieved 2025-03-26^
- Universal Channel Launched in Greece GreekReporter.com, 2009-05-07, retrieved 2023-08-22^
- 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.^
- Universal Channel launches in Japan OnScreen Asia, 2010-04-05^
- Universal Channel leaves Slovakia and Czech Republic 28 June 2016, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- euroart. UNIVERSAL CHANNEL POSTAJE DIVA Total TV, 2016-09-02, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- Universal channel to rebrand to DIVA in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia Media Marketing, 2016-08-04, retrieved 2023-01-02^
- mi.tv. Programación Universal TV, Hoy mi.tv, retrieved 2023-09-18^
- Universal Channel 2011-05-11, retrieved 2023-09-18^
- Universal Channel - Shows web.archive.org, retrieved 2024-01-04^
- Being Erica www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^
- Universal TV www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^
- Flashpoint www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^
- Universal TV www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^
- Men in Trees www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^
- Monk www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^
- Universal TV www.tvsa.co.za, retrieved 2023-05-23^