U&W is a British

free-to-air Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscri ...

television channel owned by

UKTV UKTV Media Limited, trading as UKTV, is a British multi-channel broadcaster, which, since 2019, has been wholly owned by BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide), a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. It was formed on 1 November 1992 through a join ...

, a subsidiary of

BBC Studios BBC Studios Limited is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Wor ...

. It originally launched on 7 October 2008 as Watch and until 2022 was a

pay television Pay television, also known as subscription television, premium television or, when referring to an individual service, a premium channel, refers to Subscription business model, subscription-based television services, usually provided by multichan ...

channel. From 15 February 2016 to 16 July 2024, the channel was known as W.

History of U&W

Watch launched on 7 October 2008, taking over capacity on

Sky The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the planetary surface, surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from ...

previously used for UKTV Style +2, which had closed on 15 September 2008 in preparation for the launch. The channel would feature general entertainment programmes, primarily from the programming archive of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

, who owned a 50% share of the network through the corporation's commercial arm

BBC Worldwide BBC Worldwide Ltd. was the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in January 1995. The company monetised BBC brands, selling BBC and other British programming for broadcas ...

. Featured programmes included ''

Torchwood ''Torchwood'' is a British-American science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off of the 2005 revival of ''Doctor Who'', it aired from 2006 to 2011. The show shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect i ...

'', general entertainment programmes, and international versions of popular current British programming, (such as ''

Dancing with the Stars ''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...

'', the US version of ''

Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (commonly referred to as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly Ballroom dance, ballroom and Latin dance, Latin dance. Each couple is ...

'', and the various American editions of '' Wipeout'', which is titled as ''Total Wipeout USA'' to avert confusion with the British programme of the same name). The channel also featured programmes displaced following the repositioning of other UKTV channels (such as the move of all non-crime drama to the channel following

Alibi An alibi (, from the Latin, '' alibī'', meaning "somewhere else") is a statement by a person under suspicion in a crime that they were in a different place when the offence was committed. During a police investigation, all suspects are usually a ...

's launch), and programming already shown on other UKTV channels in greater numbers (such as '' Traffic Cops''). The channel controller was Paul Moreton. On 15 February 2016, Watch was rebranded as W. The channel's programming would be revamped and would feature original dramas, documentaries, and lifestyle shows. The channel went free on satellite on 21 March 2022, one week ahead of a full relaunch of W as a channel on both Freeview and

Freesat Freesat is a British free-to-air satellite television service, first formed as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc and now owned by Everyone TV (itself owned by all of the four UK Public broadcasting, public service broadcasters, BBC, ...

on 28 March. The relaunch saw a revised onscreen identity, and a shift in programming to target women. To make way for the addition of W, Dave ja vu (the timeshift service of Dave) moved to the position previously occupied by Drama +1, which had been added to the Freeview lineup following UKTV's purchase and closure of CCXTV. In November 2023, UKTV announced that it would be rebranding their TV channels and streaming service under the new "U" masterbrand. In early July 2024, UKTV started to roll out a similar logo to its "U" masterbrand. The logo can be found on the corporate website and on "U" (UKTV Play) On 16 July 2024, W rebranded as U&W.

Subsidiary channels

U&W +1

The channel also operates a timeshift service, U&W +1, where the programme schedule is repeated by the channel one hour later. The channel receives no special branding, with the occasional exception of a special

Digital on-screen graphic A digital on-screen graphic, digitally originated graphic (DOG, bug, network bug, or screenbug) is a watermark-like station logo that most television broadcasters overlay over a portion of the screen area of their programs to identify the channel ...

(DOG). It launched the same day as the main Watch channel on 7 October 2008 and was reported by AGB Nielsen Media Research on 2 September 2008.

U&W HD

On 29 July 2011,

announced that it had secured a deal with

to launch three more high-definition channels on their platform. 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. Watch HD launched on 12 October 2011 on Sky and Virgin Media, two days after Dave HD, while Alibi HD launched in July 2012. All three channels are HD

simulcast Simulcast (a portmanteau of "simultaneous broadcast") is the broadcasting of programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultaneously) ...

s of the

standard-definition Standard-definition television (SDTV; also standard definition or SD) is a television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to be either high-definition television, high or enhanced definition. ''Standard'' refers to offering a ...

channels. Watch HD became available on BT TV & Plusnet later in the year. The HD feed on

Sky Q Sky Q is a subscription-based television and entertainment service operated by British satellite television provider Sky, as a part of its operations in Austria and Germany, Ireland, Italy and in the UK. The name also refers to the Sky Q set-to ...

and Sky HD closed on 1 April 2025, though it will continue as normal on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.

On-air identity

2008–2016

When Watch launched in October 2008, along with G.O.L.D. and Alibi, the original on screen identity featured a large eyeball nicknamed 'Blinky'. The music used in the background of the television advertisements is "You Will Leave a Mark" by Oxford band A Silent Film. The channels original

idents Station identification (ident, network ID, channel ID or bumper (broadcasting), bumper) is the practice of radio and television stations and broadcast network, networks identifying themselves on-air, typically by means of a call sign or brand na ...

featured a liveaction video of the eyeball being pushed around by a large and varied group of people around various settings until the eyeball ends up in the centre of the screen and the Watch name appears at the bottom of the screen. The set of four idents were produced by

Red Bee Media Red Bee Media Ltd., formerly Ericsson Broadcast and Media Services (EBMS), is an international broadcasting and media services company and the largest access provider in Europe. Red Bee has its headquarters in London, England, with branch offi ...

for the channel. However, in April 2009, the four existing idents were edited by

Aardman Animations Aardman Animations Limited, known simply as Aardman, is a British animation studio based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom. It is known for films and television series made using stop motion and clay animation techniques, particularly those fe ...

to make the inflatable eyeball blink, along with new soundtracks. In addition, four new CGI idents were introduced as well as the edited idents and in May 2010, a new ident for ''Scream if You Know the Answer!'' During May 2010, UKTV were reportedly planning to overhaul the brand identity of Watch, after only eighteen months in operation. The broadcaster held a branding agency pitch and made an appointment within a month, with the review was being handled by creativebrief. The work included the creation of a fresh logo, strap-line and tone of voice for the channel, however, a spokeswoman for UKTV denied suggestions that the broadcaster would change the name of the channel and said that the overhaul was about "tweaking the brand and aligning it better with our overall strategy". The 2010 idents have their full tagline "(x) together, (y) together, (z) together, Watch together (e.g.: Sing together, play together, Get it together, Watch together)". The new Watch logo and channel presentation launched on 23 September 2010, focusing on the idea that "TV is better shared!". The new identity, created by agency Harriman Steel, includes a new strapline, "Watch... together", along with new idents, end frames and a new logo. The idents feature a scene against a black background with various elements of the scene being provided, by people in black outfits. The scenes progress with the appearance of the film being seen in reverse until the ident pans to a screen displaying three phrases related to the scene ending with the word "together." before the Watch logo is placed over the last phrase forming the channel tagline. Other promotional material makes use of the channel tagline or the appearance that the channel promotions are held in place by the black dressed men, as seen by the various covered hands shown at the edge of promotion end boards. On 23 January 2012, it was announced that Watch would receive a rebrand for a second time, created by DixonBaxi, and was to be launched on 13 February 2012, but only the promos, DOG and ECP changed on that date. But the new idents were made on 9 March 2012.

2016–2022

On 15 January 2016, it was announced that Watch would be renamed to W on 15 February 2016. In February 2022, ''

Broadcast Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

'' magazine reported that the channel would become a free-to-air channel in the spring, joining stablemates Dave, Yesterday and Drama as a Freeview service. In March 2022, this was confirmed by UKTV, who rebranded the channel's mantra to "Life Unfiltered" and introduced a new logo which included the letter W in a slanted rectangle. The logo will be mainly seen on air and in corporate branding with an orange background, with channel idents showing a series of relatable human moments behind the logo. This female skewing channel will be still targeted at a 25 to 44 age range and will be on Freeview channel 25 from 28 March 2022. W have a free-to-air launch schedule with programmes such as ''Inside the Ambulance'', ''Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over'', ''Nurses on the Ward'', ''Emma Willis Delivering Babies'', ''Emma Willis & AJ Odudu Get to Work'' and ''Women on the Force'', part of the line-up.

2022–present

UKTV confirmed the rumours that the W channel was going to rebrand as a free-to-air channel on 28 March 2022 at 6:10am. To coincide with the move, channel bosses unveiled a new logo and "Life Unfiltered" strapline which they say will help the channel connect with its female skewing 25-44 target audience. The 2022 idents were kept in the rebranding to U&W, with the logo being changed to follow the other channels.

Logo history

File:Watch (UKTV) logo.png, First logo, 7 October 2008 until 23 September 2010 File:Watch logo 2010.png, Second logo, 23 September 2010 until 9 March 2012 File:Watch logo 2012.png, Third logo, 13 February 2012 until 15 February 2016 File:W (UKTV) 2016.png, Fourth logo, 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022 File:W HD logo 2016.png, Third HD logo, 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022 File:W +1 logo 2016.png, Fourth +1 logo, 15 February 2016 until 28 March 2022 File:W (UKTV) 2022.svg, Fifth logo, 28 March 2022 until 16 July 2024 File:W HD logo 2022.svg, Fourth HD logo, 28 March 2022 until 16 July 2024 File:W +1 logo 2022.svg, Fifth +1 logo, 28 March 2022 until 16 July 2024 File:U&W (2024).svg, Sixth logo, 16 July 2024 - present File:U&W HD logo 2024.svg, Fifth HD logo, 16 July 2024 - present File:U&W +1 logo 2024.svg, Sixth +1 logo, 16 July 2024 - present

Programming

Current programming

*''999: Rescue Squad'' *'' American Housewife'' *'' Brothers & Sisters'' *'' Beverly Hills Pawn'' *''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'' *'' Border Patrol'' *'' Boston's Finest'' *'' Booze Patrol Australia'' *'' The Catherine Tate Show'' *''Celebrity Advice Bureau'' *''Celebrity Haunted Mansion'' *''Celebrity Haunted Mansion: High Spirits'' *'' Celebrity MasterChef'' *''Choccywoccydoodah'' *''Dating with My Mates'' *''David Beckham: Into The Unknown'' *''

Derren Brown Derren Brown (born 27 February 1971) is an English mentalist, illusionist, and writer. He is a self-described "psychological illusionist" whose acts are often designed to expose the methods of those who claim to possess supernatural powers, ...

'' *'' DIY SOS'' *''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'' *''Emma Willis: Delivering Babies'' *''Emma Willis: Meet the Babies'' *'' Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'' *''

Fatal Attraction ''Fatal Attraction'' is a 1987 American psychological thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne and written by James Dearden, based on his 1980 short film '' Diversion''. It follows Dan Gallagher ( Michael Douglas), an attorney who cheats on his ...

'' *''

Gavin & Stacey ''Gavin & Stacey'' is a British sitcom created, written by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one from Billericay in Essex, and the other from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and ...

'' *''

The Good Fight ''The Good Fight'' is an American legal drama television series produced for CBS's streaming service CBS All Access (later Paramount+). It was the platform's first original scripted series. The series, created by Robert King, Michelle King ...

'' *'' Heston's Fantastical Food'' *''Honey I Bought The House'' *''Humble Pie'' *'' In the Club'' *''Inside the Ambulance'' *''

I've Got Something To Tell You ''I've Got Something To Tell You'' is British television series that has aired on the W channel from 3 October to 7 November 2016. The programme, presented by Amanda Holden, aims to reunite people offering support as friends, partners and ...

'' *'' John Bishop: In Conversation With...'' *''

Jonathan Creek ''Jonathan Creek'' is a long-running British mystery fiction, mystery crime drama series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. It stars Alan Davies as the title character, who works as a creative consultant to a stage magician whi ...

'' *'' ''Luther'''' *''

Masterchef Australia ''MasterChef Australia'' is an Australian competitive cooking reality show based on the original British ''MasterChef (British TV series), MasterChef''. It is produced by Endemol Shine Australia and screens on Network 10. Restaurateur and ch ...

'' *'' MasterChef Junior USA'' *'' MasterChef USA'' *''Million Dollar Intern'' *'' Miranda'' *'' The Musketeers'' *''My Dream Home'' *'' My Family'' *''Myleene: Miscarriage and Me'' *''Nev's Indian Call Centre'' *''Nick Knowles' Original Features'' *''Nurses on the Ward'' *'' Oddities'' *'' One Born Every Minute'' *'' Outnumbered'' *''

Property Brothers ''Property Brothers'' is a Canadian reality television series now produced by Scott Brothers Entertainment, and is the original show in the Property Brothers (franchise), ''Property Brothers'' franchise. The series features twin brothers Drew S ...

'' *''Rochelle Humes: Interior Designer in the Making'' *''

Russell Howard's Good News ''Russell Howard's Good News'' is a British comedy and topical news television show which was broadcast on BBC Three between 2009 and 2014, and on BBC Two between 2014 and 2015. Hosted by comedian Russell Howard, it offered his commentary on th ...

'' *''Sea City'' *'' Sherlock'' *'' Stacey Dooley Investigates'' *'' Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over'' *''The Secrets in My Family'' *'' Supernanny'' *'' Tipping Point'' *'' Traffic Cops'' *'' The Wave'' *''The Wedding Fixer'' *'' W1A'' *'' Who Do You Think You Are?'' *'' Who Do You Think You Are? USA'' *'' Why Women Kill'' *''Women on the Verge''

Former programming

*'' Aaagh! It's the Mr. Hell Show!'' *'' Absolutely Fabulous'' *'' After You've Gone'' *''

Alcatraz Alcatraz Island () is a small island about 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco in San Francisco Bay, California, near the Golden Gate Strait. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fo ...

'' *''

Atlantis Atlantis () is a fictional island mentioned in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'' as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled all Western parts of the known world ...

'' *'' Bailiffs'' *''Battlechefs'' *''

Baywatch ''Baywatch'' is an American Drama (film and television), drama television series about lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, and Hawaii, starring David Hasselhoff. It was created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz ...

'' *'' Beauty & the Beast'' *'' Being Human'' *'' Believe'' *''Ben Earl: Trick Artist'' *''Best In Town'' *'' Betty White's Off Their Rockers'' *''Bin There, Dump That'' *''Blues and Twos'' *'' The Blue Planet'' *'' Border Patrol'' *'' The Borrowers'' *''Cars, Cops And Criminals'' *''Celebrity Haunted Hotel Live'' *''Celebrity Haunted Hotel: Do Not Disturb'' *''Choccywoccydoodah: Starstruck'' *'' Code Black'' *'' Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders'' *''

Crisis A crisis (: crises; : critical) is any event or period that will lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when ...

'' *''Coastguard Florida'' *''Confessions from the Underground'' *''

Covert Affairs ''Covert Affairs'' is an American action drama television series filmed in Toronto, Canada, starring Piper Perabo and Christopher Gorham that premiered on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. On January 6, 2015, USA Network canceled ''Covert Affairs'' afte ...

'' *''

'' *'' Daredevil'' *'' David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities'' *'' Dynamo: Magician Impossible'' *''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'' *''Emergency Bikers'' *'' Escape to the Country'' *''

Fake or Fortune? ''Fake or Fortune?'' is a BBC One documentary television series which examines the provenance and attribution of notable artworks. Since the first series aired in 2011, ''Fake or Fortune?'' has drawn audiences of up to 5 million viewers in t ...

'' *''Flights & Fights - Inside The Low Cost Airlines'' *''Get Me to the Church'' *''

Grimm Grimm may refer to: People * Grimm (surname) * Brothers Grimm, German linguists ** Jacob Grimm (1785–1863), German philologist, jurist and mythologist ** Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859), German author, the younger of the Brothers Grimm * Christia ...

'' *'' The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook'' *''

Hart of Dixie ''Hart of Dixie'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on The CW from September 26, 2011, to March 27, 2015. The series, created by Leila Gerstein, stars Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart, a New Yorker who, after her dreams of ...

'' *'' Haunted Collector'' *'' Haunted Highway'' *'' Helicopter Heroes'' *'' Hollywood Treasure'' *'' The Honourable Woman'' *''

Human Planet ''Human Planet'' is an 8-part British television documentary series. It was produced as a co-production between the BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, BBC Cymru Wales, Discovery Channel and France Télévisions. The documentary describes ...

'' *'' Iceland Foods: Life in the Freezer Cabinet'' *''Jackpots And Jinxes: Lottery Stories'' *''Katherine Mills: Mind Games'' *''Kolkata with Sue Perkins'' *''

Love Soup ''Love Soup'' is a British television comedy drama produced by the BBC and first screened on BBC One in the autumn of 2005. It stars Tamsin Greig as Alice Chenery (a role written especially for her) and Michael Landes as Gil Raymond (series 1 on ...

'' *'' The Men Who Jump Off Buildings'' *''My Breasts And I'' *''My Flat - Pack Home'' *'' My Hero'' *''Nigel Marven's Cruise Ship Adventure'' *'' Outtake TV'' *'' Paranormal Witness'' *''

Perception Perception () is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information or environment. All perception involves signals that go through the nervous syste ...

'' *''

Planet Dinosaur ''Planet Dinosaur'', is a six-part documentary television series created by Nigel Paterson and Phil Dobree, produced by the BBC, and narrated by John Hurt. It first aired in the United Kingdom in 2011, with VFX studio Jellyfish Pictures as it ...

'' *''

Planet Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all of Earth's water is ...

'' *''

Pointless ''Pointless'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British television quiz show produced by Banijay Entertainment subsidiary Remarkable Entertainment for the BBC and hosted by Alexander Armstrong. In each episode, four teams of two contestan ...

'' *''

Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is the second published novel (but third to be written) by English author Jane Austen, written when she was age 20-21, and later published in 1813. A novel of manners, it follows the character development of Elizabe ...

'' *'' Primeval: New World'' *'' Primeval'' *''

Quantum Leap Quantum leap or ''variation'', may refer to: In general * Quantum leap (physics), also known as quantum jump, a transition between quantum states ** Atomic electron transition, a key example of the physics phenomenon * Paradigm shift, a sudden ch ...

'' *'' Recruits'' *'' Recruits: Paramedics'' *''Rescue: Code One'' *'' The Restoration Man'' *'' Richard & Judy's New Position'' *''Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey'' *''Road Patrol Australia'' *'' The Route Masters: Running London's Roads'' *''The Roux Scholarship 2013'' *''Sara Cox on Friendship'' *'' Secrets and Lies'' *''Seven Envelopes'' *''

Silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

'' *''Singing in the Rainforest'' *'' Sky Cops'' *''Sophie on Fame'' *''Stacey Dooley in Australia'' *''Stansted: The Inside Story'' *'' Stranded'' *''Supersize My Job'' *''

The Strain ''The Strain'' is a 2009 vampire literature, vampire horror fiction, horror novel by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. It is the first installment in ''The Strain Trilogy'', and was followed by ''The Fall (del Toro and Hogan novel), The Fal ...

'' *'' Tarrant Lets the Kids Loose'' *'' Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'' *'' Undercover Boss'' *''Vets in Practice '' *''Vets to the Rescue '' *'' Walking with...'' *''

The Weakest Link ''Weakest Link'' (also known as ''The Weakest Link'') is a television game show which The Weakest Link (British game show), first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and originally ended on 31 March 2012 when its host ...

'' *''World's Most Talented'' *'' The World's Strictest Parents''

Most watched programmes

The following is a list of the 11 most watched shows on W, based on Live +7 data supplied by ''

BARB Barb or the BARBs or ''variation'' may refer to: People * Barb (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname * Barb, a term used by fans of Nicki Minaj to refer to themselves * The Barbs, a band Places * Barb, ...

'' up to 7 February 2016.

, vi

/ref> The number of viewers does not include repeats or W +1.

References

External links

* {{Freeview Television channels and stations established in 2008 UKTV UKTV channels

History of U&W

Subsidiary channels

U&W +1

U&W HD

On-air identity

2008–2016

2016–2022

2022–present

Logo history

Programming

Current programming

Former programming

Most watched programmes

See also

References

External links