Challenge (TV channel)

{{see also|History of Freeform#The Family Channel}}

File:Family_Channel_UK_TV_ident_from_1995.jpg

The Family Channel was a domestic version of the American cable network of the same name (now known as Freeform), then-owned by U.S. firm International Family Entertainment; which was the spin-off of the Christian Broadcasting Network that operated the channel. Prior to its launch, IFE sold a 39% stake in the channel to the UK-based Flextech (later to be known as Virgin Media Television, and the Living TV Group) in June 1993.{{cite news|title=UK media group Flextech. (invests in UK Family Channel) (Brief Article)|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13966243.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026130142/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13966243.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2012|access-date=13 January 2016|work=Broadcasting & Cable|via = Highbeam Research|date=7 June 1993}} The Family Channel was then launched on 1 September 1993.

In April 1996, IFE sold its remaining 61% share to Flextech,{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18261424.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105233007/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18261424.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-11-05|title=Flextech absorbs Family's U.K. assets. (Flextech PLC; International Family Entertainment Inc.)}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/buy-up-strategy-covers-all-exits/2037326.article |title=Buy-up strategy covers all exits | Archive |magazine=Marketing Week |date=5 April 1996 |access-date=30 May 2014}} giving them full ownership of the venture and production studio in Maidstone.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/INTERNATIONAL+FAMILY+ENTERTAINMENT+AGREES+TO+CONSOLIDATE+THE+FAMILY...-a018107792 |title=International Family Entertainment Agrees To Consolidate The Family Channel Uk into Flextech Plc. - Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |date=20 March 1996 |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118232705/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/INTERNATIONAL+FAMILY+ENTERTAINMENT+AGREES+TO+CONSOLIDATE+THE+FAMILY...-a018107792 |url-status=dead }}

Flextech planned to relaunch The Family Channel as "The Challenge Channel" during the autumn of 1996, with daytime targeted towards housewives, and evening and weekend programming focused on game shows. However, Flextech decided to delay the relaunch so it would not compete with the October 1996 launch of Granada Sky Broadcasting's suite of channels; which included the potential competitor Granada Good Life.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/family-channel-hands-relaunch-task-to-tbwa/2018963.article|title=Family Channel hands relaunch task to TBWA | Archive|magazine=Marketing Week|date=15 November 1996|access-date=30 May 2014}} Instead, The Family Channel began transitioning to the new brand by introducing a weekend game show strand known as Family Challenge Weekend.The times newspaper and the Guardian newspaper October 1996{{better source needed|date=March 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tv-live.org.uk/tv-presentation/sky/challenge/family-channel/|title=Family Channel|work=TV Live|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129045400/http://www.tv-live.org.uk/tv-presentation/sky/challenge/family-channel/|archive-date=29 January 2016}}{{unreliable source?|date=March 2016}} On 3 February 1997, The Family Channel rebranded as Challenge TV, devoting the majority of its lineup to game shows.

On 28 March 2002, Flextech announced that they would rebrand Challenge TV as Challenge? on 20 May. In addition, Sky Digital (now known as Sky UK) customers could play some shows from home to earn a spot on the Challenge? leaderboard, with the highest scorers earning prizes. Flextech also announced that these interactive services would come to digital cable later in 2002.[https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a6867/new-look-quotchallengequot-to-go-interactive-may-20/ New-look "Challenge?" to go interactive May 20] A year later, on 30 June 2003, the question mark was dropped from the channel's name, subsequently rebranding it as simply Challenge.

On 13 December 2004, a one-hour timeshift of Challenge, known as Challenge +1, launched on Sky Digital.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a17640/living-tv-2-challenge-1-launch/|title=Living TV 2, Challenge +1 launch|website=Digital Spy|date=13 December 2004}}

In May 2005, with the success of its recently-added gambling-related programmes, Challenge launched a dedicated strand titled Player. The block would air from 10:00{{nbsp}}pm every night, and feature live poker, as well as scripted series and films.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/may/16/mondaymediasection15|title=Chips with everything|website=TheGuardian.com|date=16 May 2005}}

On 2 March 2006, Player was spun-off to its own channel, which became a sister channel to Bravo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a29698/players-on-air-identity-revealed/|title=Player's on-air identity revealed|website=Digital Spy|date=28 February 2006}} On 28 September, Player was rebranded as Bravo 2.

On 1 July 2008, a new sister channel called Challenge Jackpot was launched as a joint-venture between parent company Virgin Media Television and Two Way Media.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a105725/virgin-to-launch-challenge-gaming-channel.html|title=Virgin to launch Challenge gaming channel|publisher=Digital Spy|date=30 June 2008}}

On 7 April 2009, Virgin Media formally began the sale of its content operation.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/896866/Virgin-Media-begins-sale-its-content-perations|title=Virgin Media begins sale of its content operations|magazine=Media Week|date=7 April 2009}} On 13{{nbsp}}July 2010, Sky UK and Virgin Media announced that the former had completed its acquisition of Virgin Media Television following regulatory approval in the Republic of Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://about.virginmedia.com/press-release/425/bskyb-and-virgin-media-complete-sale-of-vmtv|title=BSkyB and Virgin Media Complete Sale of VMtv|publisher=Virgin Media|date=13 July 2010|access-date=2 September 2013}}

In March 2010, NetPlay TV, who acquired Two-Way Media in April 2009, terminated their agreement with to run Challenge Jackpot; the venture would be fully sold to NetPlay.{{cite web|url=http://www.netplaytv.plc.uk/netplaytv/release.jsp?type=news&ref=192|title=Acquisition of Challenge Jackpot database|publisher=NetPlay TV|date=25 March 2010|access-date=30 January 2022|archive-date=9 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609075657/http://www.netplaytv.plc.uk/netplaytv/release.jsp?type=news&ref=192|url-status=dead}}

On 15 September, Sky announced the closure of Bravo, Bravo 2 and Channel One. On Tuesday 1 February 2011, Challenge replaced Channel One's Freeview space on the Freeview multiplex; expanding the viewership of the channel by making it free-to-air around the United Kingdom.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/sep/15/bravo-channel-one-bdkyb|title=BSkyB to close Bravo and Channel One|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=15 September 2010|work=guardian.co.uk|access-date=15 September 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.overnights.tv/public/content/News.aspx|title=BARB reported channels|publisher=overnights.tv|date=17 January 2011}}{{cite web|author=Paul|url=http://www.entertainment-iuk.com/2011/01/26/freeview-channel-number-confirmed-for-challenge/|title=Entertainment Interactive|publisher=Entertainment-iuk.com|date=26 January 2011|access-date=30 May 2014|archive-date=8 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508032654/http://www.entertainment-iuk.com/2011/01/26/freeview-channel-number-confirmed-for-challenge/|url-status=dead}}

On 25 January 2011, it was announced that professional wrestling programming from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) would start broadcasting on Challenge from {{nowrap|3 February 2011}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/feed_news-17976-Sky_Confirm_Challenge_TV_as_the_UK_Home_of_TNA_Pro.php|title=WWE News, TNA News, WWE Payback Results (6/1)|publisher=WrestlingNewsSource.Com|access-date=30 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508025512/http://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/feed_news-17976-Sky_Confirm_Challenge_TV_as_the_UK_Home_of_TNA_Pro.php|archive-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead}} In addition to airing Impact and Xplosion, Challenge aired reality series TNA British Boot Camp, and delayed broadcasts of TNA pay-per-view events. On {{nowrap|30 January 2014}}, for the first time, Impact was broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Challenge before it aired in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.cable.co.uk/news/more-from-impact-wrestling-on-challenge-tv-promises-wrestler-70000006/|title='More from Impact Wrestling on Challenge TV' promises wrestler|website=www.cable.co.uk|access-date=22 July 2024|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305114348/https://www.cable.co.uk/news/more-from-impact-wrestling-on-challenge-tv-promises-wrestler-70000006/|url-status=dead}}

On Monday 3 December 2012, Challenge launched on the free-to-air satellite platform Freesat.{{cite web|url=http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/challenge-tv-launching-on-freesat/|title=Challenge TV launching on Freesat|publisher=Join Freesat|date=1 December 2012|access-date=1 December 2012|archive-date=7 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707202213/http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/challenge-tv-launching-on-freesat/|url-status=dead}}

On 7 October 2013, the channel went through a revamp, which included a new logo, and a set of animated characters, named the "Challengers", as idents{{Clarify|Reason=Define "indents"|date=February 2023}} to represent each type of show; such as Les Play for classics,{{Clarify|Reason=What does "classics" refer to or mean?|date=February 2023}} Ellie for lighter physical shows or Cecil the Geek for science shows.{{cite web|url=http://www.skymedia.co.uk/news/challenge-and-pick-get-an-exciting-new-look.aspx?year=2013|title=Challenge and Pick get an exciting new look|publisher=Skymedia.co.uk|access-date=30 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031234/http://www.skymedia.co.uk/news/challenge-and-pick-get-an-exciting-new-look.aspx?year=2013|archive-date=3 December 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.challenge.co.uk/news/challenge-gets-an-exciting-new-look.html|title=An Exciting New Look On|publisher=Challenge|access-date=30 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001244/http://www.challenge.co.uk/news/challenge-gets-an-exciting-new-look.html|archive-date=9 May 2014}}

By 2017, Challenge would drop all wrestling programming.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/top-story/68992-tna-loses-tv-deal-challenge-tv-uk-five-years-companies-issue-statements-decision/|title=TNA loses TV deal with Challenge TV in the UK after five years, both companies issue statements on the decision|website=WrestleView|date=November 2016}}

On 1 June 2020, Challenge +1 was closed on all platforms.{{cite web|title=Hi Andy, the +1 channels are becoming a little redundant with things like Catch Up & On Demand now. The decision was made to close the channel on June 1st, but please bare[sic] in mind everything available on +1 will still be available to download. Apologies for any inconvenience. ^CL|url=https://twitter.com/SkyHelpTeam/status/1267731803080740864|website=@SkyHelpTeam|publisher=Twitter|access-date=3 June 2020|language=en|date=2 June 2020}}{{better source needed|date=July 2020}}

On 12 November 2020, Challenge broadcast football for the first time, when it showed the Northern Ireland v Slovakia UEFA Euro 2020 playoff final match.{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12126185/sky-sports-make-scotland-and-northern-ireland-euro-2020-play-off-finals-available-free-to-air|title=Sky Sports make Scotland and Northern Ireland Euro 2020 play-off finals available free-to-air|website=Sky Sports}}

{{Main|List of programmes broadcast by Challenge}}

Current programming seen on Challenge, as of November 2024, includes The Chase (presently, the most frequently aired show on the channel), Bullseye, Family Fortunes, Catchphrase, and Bruce's Price Is Right & Play Your Cards Right.[https://www.tvguide.co.uk/channel/challenge Challenge - Today's TV | TV Guide; Retrieved on 22 July 2024][Challenge, today | Schedules | TV24.co.uk; Retrieved on 22 July 2024] The channel has also produced its own original programmes, including revivals of Bullseye and Blockbusters.

Challenge has previously broadcast general interest programming (including the BBC blooper show Auntie's Bloomers from 2009 to 2011{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SvKc2sTYkM|title=Auntie's Bloomers - Part 1 (repeated 20/04/2009)|date=23 April 2009|via=www.youtube.com}}), and was the former UK rights holder for U.S. professional wrestling company TNA.

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Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom