FTN (Flextech Television Network) was a television channel owned by Virgin Media Television (formerly known as Flextech). The channel's main purpose was to exist as a highlights network for Flextech to showcase Freeview viewers the programmes from their paid channels, although it also aired its own programming.
 | |
| Programming | |
|---|---|
| Timeshift service | Ftn+1 (Thursday 9 August - Monday 1 October 2007) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Virgin Media Television |
| History | |
| Launched | 15 January 2003 |
| Closed | 1 October 2007 |
| Replaced by | Virgin 1 |
| Availability (at time of closure) | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 20 |
It originally launched on 15 January 2003, airing from 6:00pm-6:00am as it timeshared with UKTV Bright Ideas. It also transitioned on Virgin Media, and as a subscription channel on Sky.
History
editThe channel was announced on 3 October 2002 as part of a preparation of networks on the Freeview service.[1] The channel's initial launch programming was announced on 1 January 2003, with a launch prepared for the 15th.[2]
FTN +1 launched on Sky and Virgin Media on 9 August 2007. Despite being a one-hour timeshift, FTN +1 only broadcast from 7:00pm until 1:00am, as Live Roulette TV which broadcast on FTN from 12:00am-3:00am, couldn't be rebroadcast one hour later, for legal reasons.
It was announced in the summer of 2007 that Virgin Media Television was to launch a new channel, Virgin 1.[3] The new channel launches on Monday 1 October 2007.[4] The channel was Virgin Media's attempt to rival Sky One.
As a result of this new channel, it was revealed the Ftn would close, leaving its EPG positions on Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview to Virgin 1.[5]
Ftn closed at 6am on Monday 1 October 2007, with Virgin 1 launching at 9:00pm on the same day.[6]
Programming
editFTN's schedule featured entertainment and reality programming, and also programming from other Virgin Media Television cable channels, such as Living, Living2, Bravo, Bravo 2, Trouble, and Challenge. This provided a preview to Freeview viewers of what the Virgin Media channels offered, in a similar fashion to BSkyB's Sky Three, a channel which was also on Freeview.
Participation TV
editPreviously The Great Big British Quiz broadcast nightly between the hours of 00:00 and 03:00am. (Big Game TV took this spot until April 2007) Between November 2005 and November 2006 Quiz Night Live broadcast from 22.00 - 01.00 daily only to be replaced by Ostrich Media's Quiz Call which ceased broadcasting on FTN on 1 January 2007.
In June 2007, Live Roulette TV began broadcasting on FTN between the hours of midnight and 03:00am.
References
edit- ^ "UPDATED: Freeview to launch at end of month". Digital Spy. 3 October 2002.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: FTN programming lineup revealed". Digital Spy. January 2003.
- ^ "Virgin Media Television announces Virgin 1". Virgin Media Press Office. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2006.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Virgin 1 launch date announced". Digital Spy. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2006.
- ^ "Launch of Virgin 1 on Freeview". Freeview.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2006.
- ^ "Ftn/Virgin 1 schedule (1 October 2007)". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2006.
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