Spike (UK)

Spike UK
Launched 15 April 2015 (2015-04-15)
Owned by Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd
(Viacom International Media Networks Europe)
Picture format 576i (16:9 SDTV)
Audience share 0.29% (September 2015 (2015-09), BARB)
Slogan Live it like Spike
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Broadcast area United Kingdom
Sister channel(s)
Website www.spiketv.co.uk
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview Channel 31
Satellite
Freesat Channel 141
Sky (UK only) Channel 160
Astra 28.2°E 10964 H 22000 5/6
Cable
Virgin Media Channel 154

Spike UK is a British digital television channel owned by Viacom International Media Networks Europe. Launching on 15 April 2015 on Freeview, it is a localised version of the American channel of the same name, and primarily airs entertainment programming geared towards a male audience, including import dramas, programming from its U.S. counterpart, and mixed martial arts.

History

Following Viacom's acquisition of Channel 5, it was reported that a local version of the male skewing U.S. channel Spike would be launching in the United Kingdom. These reports were confirmed in late 2014, with the channel proposed to replace Viva on Freeview.[1] The channel is operated under the auspices of Channel 5's programming director Ben Frow; of Spike's lineup, he described the service as a "driven, high-energy channel offering a point of view and programme mix I think is different from anything else on British TV right now."[1]

Spike launched on 15 April 2015 on Freeview channel 31, displacing 5 USA; although it was originally announced that Spike would replace Viva entirely on Freeview, Viva was instead moved to a different channel and reduced to two hours per-day to conserve bandwidth for Spike, with 5 USA taking on its previous channel allotment.[2][3][4][5][6] Among its first programs, the premiere of Police Interceptors Unleashed was seen by 137,000 viewers.[7]

Programming

The channel's lineup draws primarily from the original programmes produced by its U.S. counterpart, including Bar Rescue, Catch a Contractor, and Lip Sync Battle among others, along with imported U.S. dramas such as Breaking Bad (notably marking the first time the entire series would be broadcast by British television; only the first two seasons were shown by Fox and 5 USA, with the remainder available via Netflix), Sons of Anarchy, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Walking Dead. Spike also carries original British productions, such as Police Interceptors Unleashed—a spin-off of the Channel 5 series hosted by footballer Vinnie Jones, [7] and repeats of some of Channel 5's factual programmes.[8][9]

As in the U.S.,[10] mixed-martial arts also comprises a portion of Spike's lineup, with British TV rights to Bellator MMA, and under a new long-term deal, exclusive rights to BAMMA events beginning with BAMMA 20 on 25 April 2015.[11]

Original

From Spike U.S.

From Channel 5

Imported

Most watched programmes

The following is a list of the ten most watched shows on Spike, based on Live +7 data supplied by BARB up to 29 July 2016.[12] The number of viewers does not include repeats.

Rank Show Episode Number of Viewers Date
1 The Expendables 2 N/A 359,000 27 March 2016
2 Transporter: The Series 2.07 - Sex, Lies and Video Tapes 303,000 19 February 2016
3 From Dusk till Dawn: The Series 1.01 - Pilot 272,000 4 January 2016
4 From Dusk till Dawn: The Series 1.02 - Blood Runs Thick 267,000 4 January 2016
5 Powers 1.01 - Pilot 261,000 13 May 2016
6 Wynonna Earp 1.01 - Purgatory 257,000 29 July 2016
7 The Expendables 2 N/A 249,000 8 June 2015
Transporter: The Series 2.03 - Beacon of Hope 249,000 22 January 2016
8 Breaking Bad 1.02 - Cat's in the Bag... 242,000 16 April 2015
9 Breaking Bad 1.04 - Cancer Man 237,000 20 April 2015
10 Transporter: The Series 2.12 - Endgame 236,000 25 March 2016

References

  1. 1 2 "Viacom to launch Spike TV in UK". Broadcast. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Freeview Channel Updates: April 2015". a516digital. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Spike launches 15 April and some channels are moving". Freeview. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Spike TV to launch with Breaking Bad". Broadcast. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Munn, Patrick (26 March 2015). "VIMN To Launch Spike UK on April 15th; Picks Up UK Rights to Olympus, Justified, Sons & Anarchy and More". TVWise. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Dire UTV Ireland could learn a thing or two from Spike". Herald.ie. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Breaking Bad helps Spike to solid launch night". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Spike to Launch in U.K. with 'Breaking Bad,' 'Walking Dead,' 'Sons of Anarchy'". Variety. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Spike TV: the best and worst of the new channel's brogramming". The Guardian. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Mr. Friday Night Lights Out? Joe Schilling eyes PBC Boxing in addition to Bellator and GLORY". MMAMania (SBNation). Vox Media. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  11. ↑ "BAMMA makes deal with Spike TV in the UK". Bloody Elbow (SBNation). Vox Media. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  12. ↑ BARB, via

External links

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