Sumo TV

{{Short description|TV channel}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Sumo TV

| logo_size = 200px

| logo = Sumo TV logo.png

| logo_alt =

| launch_date = 28 November 2006

| closed_date = 21 August 2012

| owner = Cellcast Group

| country = United Kingdom

| former_names = You TV (2002-2006)

| replaced_by = Horror Channel

| sister_channels =

| timeshift_service =

}}

Sumo TV was a free-to-air television channel owned by Cellcast Group. On 1 July 2006, You TV was relabelled as Sumo TV.{{cite web|url=http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/tv-broadcast-licences/updates/200609|title=Television Broadcast Licensing Update September 2006|publisher=Ofcom|accessdate=30 June 2011}} Sumo TV was officially launched on 28 November 2006, claiming to be the world's first user-content TV channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.cellcast.tv/html/news/archive/28-11-06.aspx|title=Cellcast launches Sumo.TV on Sky|publisher=Cellcast Group|date=28 November 2006}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/27/newmedia.broadcasting2|title=User-generated TV channel launches|work=The Guardian|date=27 November 2006}} Through their website and programming blocks on other TV channels, Sumo TV also had operations in America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, with a showcase of local content.{{cite web|url=http://www.techshout.com/internet/2007/11/sumotv-officially-launched-in-india-by-cellcast|title=Sumo.TV Officially Launched in India by Cellcast|publisher=TechShout|date=11 January 2007}}

Every time a clip was broadcast, the originator of the content received a percentage of the revenues generated.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6192926.stm|title=Video-sharing makes move to TV|publisher=BBC News|date=29 November 2006}} The channel was criticised by Ofcom for putting too much responsibility for complying with the broadcasting code on the creators of user-generated clips rather than performing sufficient checks themselves.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/jan/28/television.digitaltvradio1|title=Sumo slammed over users' video clips|work=The Guardian|date=28 January 2008}}

On 25 October 2007, James Brown was hired as Sumo TV's creative and editorial director,{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a78442/sumotv-hires-loadeds-james-brown.html|title=Sumo.tv hires 'Loaded's James Brown|publisher=Digital Spy|date=25 October 2007}} Brown introduced a dozen new programmes.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a90251/qa-brown-explains-shake-up-at-sumo.html|title=Q&A: Brown explains shake-up at Sumo|publisher=Digital Spy|date=29 February 2008}}

On 27 March 2008, it was announced that Cellcast had sold Sumo TV and Sumo TV +1's EPG slots to Discovery for £1.4m as well as receiving a slot further down the Entertainment category of the EPG.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a92368/sumo-owner-in-gbp14m-epg-slot-trade.html|title=Sumo owner in £1.4m EPG slot trade|publisher=Digital Spy|date=27 March 2008}} Later in the year Sumo TV moved to the Adult category followed by the Gaming and Dating category allowing them to broadcast content from Cellcast's adult channels at night. Sumo TV returned to the Entertainment category on 25 November 2008 with programming from Psychic Television as well as archive footage.

On 21 August 2012, Sumo TV closed and was replaced with a simulcast of the Horror Channel on Sky channel 198.{{cite web|url=http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/articles.php?feature=6873&category=3&archive=2012|title=Horror Channel Now Also on Sky 198 from 9am till 9pm!|publisher=Horror Channel|date=20 August 2012}}