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U&W
U&W is a British free-to-air television channel owned by UKTV, a subsidiary of BBC Studios. It originally launched on 7 October 2008 as Watch and until 2022 was a pay television channel. From 15 February 2016 to 16 July 2024, the channel was known as W.
Watch launched on 7 October 2008, taking over capacity on Sky previously used for UKTV Style +2, which had closed on 15 September 2008 in preparation for the launch.
The channel would feature general entertainment programmes, primarily from the programming archive of the BBC, who owned a 50% share of the network through the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide. Featured programmes included Torchwood, general entertainment programmes, and international versions of popular current British programming, (such as Dancing with the Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, and the various American editions of Wipeout, which is titled as Total Wipeout USA to avert confusion with the British programme of the same name). The channel also featured programmes displaced following the repositioning of other UKTV channels (such as the move of all non-crime drama to the channel following Alibi's launch), and programming already shown on other UKTV channels in greater numbers (such as Traffic Cops). The channel controller was Paul Moreton.
On 15 February 2016, Watch was rebranded as W. The channel's programming would be revamped and would feature original dramas, documentaries, and lifestyle shows.
The channel went free on satellite on 21 March 2022, one week ahead of a full relaunch of W as a free-to-air channel on both Freeview and Freesat on 28 March. The relaunch saw a revised onscreen identity, and a shift in programming to target women. To make way for the addition of W, Dave ja vu (the timeshift service of Dave) moved to the position previously occupied by Drama +1, which had been added to the Freeview lineup following UKTV's purchase and closure of CCXTV.
In November 2023, UKTV announced that it would be rebranding their TV channels and streaming service under the new "U" masterbrand. In early July 2024, UKTV started to roll out a similar logo to its "U" masterbrand. The logo can be found on the corporate website and on "U" (UKTV Play) On 16 July 2024, W rebranded as U&W.
The channel also operates a timeshift service, U&W +1, where the programme schedule is repeated by the channel one hour later. The channel receives no special branding, with the occasional exception of a special Digital on-screen graphic (DOG). It launched the same day as the main Watch channel on 7 October 2008 and was reported by AGB Nielsen Media Research on 2 September 2008.
On 29 July 2011, UKTV announced that it had secured a deal with Sky to launch three more high-definition channels on their platform. As part of Virgin Media's deal to sell its share of UKTV, all five of UKTV's HD channels would also be added to Virgin's cable television service by 2012. Watch HD launched on 12 October 2011 on Sky and Virgin Media, two days after Dave HD, while Alibi HD launched in July 2012. All three channels are HD simulcasts of the standard-definition channels. Watch HD became available on BT TV & Plusnet later in the year. The HD feed on Sky Q and Sky HD closed on 1 April 2025, though it will continue as normal on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
U&W
U&W is a British free-to-air television channel owned by UKTV, a subsidiary of BBC Studios. It originally launched on 7 October 2008 as Watch and until 2022 was a pay television channel. From 15 February 2016 to 16 July 2024, the channel was known as W.
Watch launched on 7 October 2008, taking over capacity on Sky previously used for UKTV Style +2, which had closed on 15 September 2008 in preparation for the launch.
The channel would feature general entertainment programmes, primarily from the programming archive of the BBC, who owned a 50% share of the network through the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide. Featured programmes included Torchwood, general entertainment programmes, and international versions of popular current British programming, (such as Dancing with the Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, and the various American editions of Wipeout, which is titled as Total Wipeout USA to avert confusion with the British programme of the same name). The channel also featured programmes displaced following the repositioning of other UKTV channels (such as the move of all non-crime drama to the channel following Alibi's launch), and programming already shown on other UKTV channels in greater numbers (such as Traffic Cops). The channel controller was Paul Moreton.
On 15 February 2016, Watch was rebranded as W. The channel's programming would be revamped and would feature original dramas, documentaries, and lifestyle shows.
The channel went free on satellite on 21 March 2022, one week ahead of a full relaunch of W as a free-to-air channel on both Freeview and Freesat on 28 March. The relaunch saw a revised onscreen identity, and a shift in programming to target women. To make way for the addition of W, Dave ja vu (the timeshift service of Dave) moved to the position previously occupied by Drama +1, which had been added to the Freeview lineup following UKTV's purchase and closure of CCXTV.
In November 2023, UKTV announced that it would be rebranding their TV channels and streaming service under the new "U" masterbrand. In early July 2024, UKTV started to roll out a similar logo to its "U" masterbrand. The logo can be found on the corporate website and on "U" (UKTV Play) On 16 July 2024, W rebranded as U&W.
The channel also operates a timeshift service, U&W +1, where the programme schedule is repeated by the channel one hour later. The channel receives no special branding, with the occasional exception of a special Digital on-screen graphic (DOG). It launched the same day as the main Watch channel on 7 October 2008 and was reported by AGB Nielsen Media Research on 2 September 2008.
On 29 July 2011, UKTV announced that it had secured a deal with Sky to launch three more high-definition channels on their platform. As part of Virgin Media's deal to sell its share of UKTV, all five of UKTV's HD channels would also be added to Virgin's cable television service by 2012. Watch HD launched on 12 October 2011 on Sky and Virgin Media, two days after Dave HD, while Alibi HD launched in July 2012. All three channels are HD simulcasts of the standard-definition channels. Watch HD became available on BT TV & Plusnet later in the year. The HD feed on Sky Q and Sky HD closed on 1 April 2025, though it will continue as normal on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.