UKTV: Watch to get a rebrand?

Reports from Broadcast suggest UKTV channel Watch could be facing another re-brand to make it appeal to a female audience.

Article from A516 Digital - http://www.a516digital.com/2015/05/one-to-watch-uktv-channel-could-be-re.html

How many times has this channel rebranded now?

The content is there, but Watch is one of UKTV's weaker brands. I can't see how it could do any harm.

Isn;t watch for everyone? it has Doctor who etc

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Eyeball
Blue Circle with dot
And pink semi-circle

The current look is so far the longest-running, at just over 3 years.

There were also a couple of adjustments made to the original set - the logo always used to be displayed horizontally with the eye symbol to the left of the wordmark. Then they changed the logo (and DOG) so the eye was much bigger than the wordmark, appearing above it. At the same time, the idents were edited so that the physical model of the eye would blink (people would roll it around different landscapes like a beach, city centre, park... yeah I don't understand it either).

Richard & Judy's show was originally titled 'Richard & Judy's New Position' for a few months, before they redesigned the set from the horrid red they had to a more neutral one, similar to the colour scheme of their Channel 4 set. I'm not sure whether they moved it from 8pm to early evening at the same time though? I know they had a repeat at that time.

http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/Watch

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4f/Watch_%28UKTV%29_logo.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Watch_logo_2010.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/Watch_logo_2012.png

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I think most of what Watch airs can fit onto UKTV's other channels. It was doomed from the beginning when Richard and Judy's show flopped almost instantly, and it never seems to know what it wants to be. There's "general entertainment" and then there's just "bland".

Agreed. They are just wasting their time and money, trying to get it to work. They should be focusing on the slightly more "niche" channels, and strengthening them. It could maybe work as a "showcase channel" for UKTV, with programmes from Dave, Alibi, Really, etc.

There must be a reason/objective for relaunching. Just like other programmes, channels or stations...

It's a waste of a channel. The programming can fit elsewhere. They should get rid of it and just promote Drama up to the vacated EPG slot.

I don't think Watch has ever really worked as intended, and certainly not created anything like the 'Entertainment Channel' image they intended for such a high EPG position.

Perhaps UKTV have over-stretched themselves with so many channels which essentially duplicate each other. I think they should close it and move Drama into that slot with additional resources and an HD simulcast.