U&Alibi

{{short description|Digital television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom}}

{{Redirect|UKTV Drama|the current channel|U&Drama}}

{{EngvarB|date=April 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = U&Alibi

| logo_size = 180px

| logo_caption = Logo used since 2024

| logo = U&Alibi (2024).svg

| launch_date = {{start date and age|1 November 1997}}

| owner = BBC Studios

| parent = UKTV

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| area = United Kingdom and Ireland

| picture_format = 1080i HDTV
{{small|(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)}}

| former_names = UK Arena (1997–2000)
UK Drama (2000–2004)
UKTV Drama (2004–2008)
Alibi (2008–2024)

| timeshift_service = U&Alibi +1

| sister_channels = U&Dave
U&Drama
U&Eden
U&Gold
U&W
U&Yesterday

| website = {{URL|uandalibi.co.uk}}

| online_serv_1 = Sky Go

| online_chan_1 = [http://go.sky.com/ Watch live] (UK and Ireland only)

| online_serv_2 = Virgin TV Go

| online_chan_2 = [https://virgintvgo.virginmedia.com/en.html Watch live] (UK only)

| online_serv_3 = TalkTalk TV

| online_chan_3 = [https://www.talktalktv.co.uk/#/ Watch live] (UK only)

| online_chan_4 = [https://www.player.bt.com/#/home Watch live] (UK only)

}}

U&Alibi is a British premium television channel that was launched on 1 November 1997 as UK Arena. It was renamed UK Drama in 2000, and then UKTV Drama in 2004, Alibi on 7 October 2008, and U&Alibi on 7 November 2024.

History of U&Alibi

The channel originally launched as part of the new four-channel UKTV network on 1 November 1997. The channel, originally named UK Arena, focused on arts programming and was named after the BBC's flagship arts programme Arena (The BBC, through BBC Worldwide, owning half of UKTV and therefore half the channel). The channel aired as a part-time service, airing from 3:00pm every day.

However, following disappointing ratings, the channel's focus was broadened to include all drama series, and as a result was renamed UK Drama on 31 March 2000. However, the channel remained a part-time service, starting at 7:00pm.

On 5 November 2001, UK Drama began timesharing with a new sister channel, UK Food, which aired in UK Drama's daytime slot.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a3330/uktv-announces-uk-food-launch/|title=UKTV announces UK Food launch|website=Digital Spy|date=11 July 2001}}

On 10 January 2003, UK Food extended its broadcast hours while UK Drama reduced its broadcast hours to 9:00pm–5:00am.{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/uk-food-extends-programming-hours/167791|title=UK Food extends programming hours|website=Campaign}}

On 8 March 2004, the channel, alongside all other UKTV channels, was renamed UKTV Drama to increase awareness of the UKTV brand. On 1 July 2004, UKTV Food extended its broadcast hours, leading to UKTV Drama moving to UKTV Food +1's slot (which had been vacated by UKTV People), although still broadcasting the same hours as before.{{cite web|url=https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/133762/uktv-food-and-uktv-people-to-be-24-hours-before-the-end-of-the-year|title=UKTV Food and UKTV People to be 24 Hours Before the End of the Year|website=Digital Spy|date=22 June 2004}}

On 9 April 2005, UKTV announced that UKTV Drama would expand to a full 24-hour schedule on 30 May.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a20539/uktv-drama-to-expand-hours/|title=UKTV Drama to expand hours|website=Digital Spy|date=9 April 2005}} In order to prepare for the transition, the channel moved out of UKTV Food +1's downtime slot to a newly purchased space and started broadcasting from 1:00pm at the end of April, before the full transition to a 24-hour network.

On 2 May 2006, a one-hour timeshift service - UKTV Drama +1, launched on Sky in the vacated broadcast space formerly home to UKTV People +1. It broadcast from 3:00pm–2:00am every day.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a32356/three-additions-to-sky-epg/|title=Three additions to Sky EPG|website=Digital Spy|date=2 May 2006}} Corresponding to the name on the main channel shows all programming from the channel one hour later, with no special idents or continuity used.

On 23 October 2007, UKTV Drama +1 was added to Virgin Media.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a78284/uktv-drama-timeshift-added-to-vm-lineup/|title=UKTV Drama timeshift added to VM lineup|website=Digital Spy|date=23 October 2007}}

Following the successful relaunch and rebranding of the channel UKTV G2 as Dave on 15 October 2007, the remaining UKTV channels underwent the same changes. UKTV Drama and UKTV Drama +1 were renamed as Alibi and Alibi +1, respectively, on 7 October 2008, and the channel's programmes were changed to focus specifically on crime dramas.{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/846913/UKTV-unveils-new-channels-familiar-stars-John-Cleese-Red-Dwarf-crew/|title=UKTV unveils new channels and familiar stars like John Cleese and Red Dwarf crew|last=Donnelly|first=Alison|date=17 September 2008|work=Brand Republic|access-date=6 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920234009/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/846913/UKTV-unveils-new-channels-familiar-stars-John-Cleese-Red-Dwarf-crew/|archive-date=20 September 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/09/uktv_to_reveal_eyeopening_watch_logo.html|title=UKTV to reveal eye-opening Watch logo|last=Curtis|first=Chris|date=17 September 2008|work=Broadcast|access-date=6 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921021524/http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/2008/09/uktv_to_reveal_eyeopening_watch_logo.html|archive-date=21 September 2008|url-status=live}} All non-crime dramas were transferred to the rebranded Gold channel or to the newly created flagship channel Watch.

On 29 July 2011, UKTV announced that it had secured a deal with BSkyB to launch three more high-definition channels on Sky.{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/646048|title=UKTV enters VoD market with landmark HD content deal with Sky|publisher=UKTV|date=29 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107010131/http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/646048|archive-date=7 November 2011}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/04a841ee-c729-11e0-a9ef-00144feabdc0.html|title=Virgin Media sells £239m stake in UKTV|publisher=Financial Times|date=15 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103053054/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/04a841ee-c729-11e0-a9ef-00144feabdc0.html|archive-date=3 January 2012|url-status=dead}} Alibi HD launched on 3 July 2012 on Sky and Virgin Media, while Dave HD and Watch HD launched in October 2011. All three channels are HD simulcasts of the standard-definition channels.

File: Alibi-logo-2015.png

Programming

The output of the channel is a combination of drama series and serials comprising first-run exclusive and second run shows from the United States and Canada, together with second run showings of shows from the BBC and ITV.

Original programming

=Drama=

  • Annika (BBC) (original series)
  • Traces (BBC) (2 series, 12 episodes) (Alibi original series){{cite web|last=White|first=Peter|title=Martin Compston, Laura Fraser, Molly Windsor & Jennifer Spence To Star in UKTV Crime Drama Traces|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/martin-compston-traces-casting-1202605156/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=1 May 2019|date=1 May 2019}}{{cite web|title=Traces: From release date to cast - everything we know about Alibi's female-led crime thriller so far|url=http://tv.bt.com/tv/tv-from-bt/traces-season-1-channel-alibi-release-date-cast-episodes-trailer-characters-martin-compston-molly-windsor-11364398907672 |website=BT Group |access-date=7 October 2019}} (Renewed{{cite web|last1=Wiseman|first1=Andreas|last2=Kanter|first2=Jake|title=Caravaggio's Shadow Underway in Naples; Curzon Picks Up Cannes Drama Il Mio Corpo; Traces & We Hunt Together Renewed – Euro Briefs|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/curzon-picks-up-cannes-drama-il-mio-corpo-traces-we-hunt-together-renewed-uk-briefs-1234586116/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=28 September 2020|date=28 September 2020}})
  • We Hunt Together (BBC) (2 series, 12 episodes) (Alibi original series) (Renewed)
  • The Diplomat (BBC) (original series)
  • The Red King
  • Bookish (2025)
  • I, Jack Wright (2025)
  • Mudtown (2025)

=Co-production=

  • Inspector George Gently (BBC){{cite web|url=http://www.c21media.net/archives/43971|title=Alibi eyes new co-productions|publisher=C21Media|date=19 June 2009|access-date=21 June 2013}}

=Current=

=Previously=

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

=TV Movies=

See also

References

{{Reflist}}