Could Universal TV be in for the chop and be replaced by Sky Comedy next year?
Law & Order: SVU is moving from Universal to Sky Witness. There doesn't seem to be new series for the channel.
The website has been reduced to a schedule page only. Universal TV's social media pages haven't been updated since 1/8/19. It seems it's on the way out?
That seems a shame if true, but likely in view of the lack of updates as you have pointed out.
I have enjoyed the channel since the days when it was Hallmark. I thought it always had a good mix of US dramas, and a fairly solid future by using the Universal name.
However, Sky Witness largely occupies the same ground so I don't see the need for duplication, but I would have been tempted to close Sky Witness and move Universal up the EPG.
Comcast seem to be more interested in the Sky brand in the UK rather than NBCU.
Comcast seem to be more interested in the Sky brand in the UK rather than NBCU.
From a branding point of view, Sky is the more visible brand in the UK. Comcast know there's still a lot of leverage in Sky over here rather than using a US studio brand.
If Universal does close. I hope that all the "Chicago...…" shows can be on one channel and Channel 5 loose the rights to Chicago PD so that all are shown cohesively. I've had to keep almost an entire season of Chicago Med on Tivo box waiting for Fire and PD to be shown on their respective channels due to the various crossovers.
If Universal does close. I hope that all the "Chicago...…" shows can be on one channel and Channel 5 loose the rights to Chicago PD so that all are shown cohesively. I've had to keep almost an entire season of Chicago Med on Tivo box waiting for Fire and PD to be shown on their respective channels due to the various crossovers.
SYFY is owned by NBC-U isn’t it? Wonder if they would consider rebranding it SkyFy. Here all day Sky if you want to hire me. 😂
Maybe Comcast want to make Universal a studio brand. Could make it a valuable in the long run rather than being a repeat channel.
I know the recent Sky/Virgin deal included the NBCU channels but I wonder whether existing deals signed with BT and TalkTalk that preclude Sky taking over the portfolio prevent them from doing anything with it until those deals expire? I agree that Universal’s procedural based slant clashes with Sky Witness so would be interested to see if the channel is closed or gets rebooted somehow.
Can’t see Sy-Fy going anywhere just yet but I think it’s one of those brands that feels sorely under-utilised by NBCU as a whole especially as we are now seeing more and more genre programming being ordered.
Universal CLOSING 27 JAN 2020 (VH1 also closing 07 JAN 2020)
Universal SD and HD channels will cease from BT TV on the 27th of January 2020 and will no longer be available in the UK market. The recordings will be available until Sunday the 23rd of February 2020.
VH1 SD channel will cease from BT TV on the 7th of January 2020 and will no longer be available in the UK market. The recordings will be available until Wednesday the 5th of February 2020.