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Playboy TV (originally The Playboy Channel) is 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 based in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.


History

The adult-oriented, commercial-free premium channel Bravo! launched in the summer of 1979. Bravo! aired two PG or R-rated
B movie A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second ...
s twice each night, and debuted at least eight new movies per month. The following year, Bravo! was purchased by Rainbow Programing Services, a joint-venture of four cable companies led by
Cablevision Cablevision Systems Corporation was an American cable television company with systems serving areas surrounding New York City. It was the fifth-largest cable provider and ninth-largest television provider in the United States. Throughout its ex ...
. Bravo! rebranded as Escapade on December 9, 1980, broadcasting on Tuesday through Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET (or as early as 4:00 a.m. on some cable systems). The channel's Sunday and Monday night timeslots and former name were taken by Rainbow's other new pay service
Bravo Bravo(s) or The Bravo(s) may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Groups and labels * Bravo (band), a Russian rock band * Bravo (Spanish group), represented Spain at Eurovision 1984 * Bravo Music, an American concert band music publishing compa ...
, which featured programming centered around the
performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...
,
foreign Foreign may refer to: Government * Foreign policy, how a country interacts with other countries * Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in many countries ** Foreign Office, a department of the UK government ** Foreign office and foreign minister * United S ...
and
arthouse An art film, arthouse film, or specialty film is an independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made prima ...
films. The satellite time utilized by the two networks was subleased from the
National Christian Network The National Christian Network was a religious television network in the United States which formed in 1979. The channel was founded by Ray A. Kassis and located in Cocoa, Florida, where it owned studios. The programming was originated from Jewish ...
. By July 1981, the service expanded to seven nights a week. In August 1981,
Playboy Enterprises PLBY Group, Inc. is an American global media and lifestyle company founded by Hugh Hefner as Playboy Enterprises, Inc. to oversee the ''Playboy'' magazine and related assets. Its headquarters are in Los Angeles, California. The company is focus ...
became half-owner of Escapade and announced a plan to produce original programming that reflected the contents of
Playboy magazine ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefn ...
beginning in early 1982. On January 21, 1982, the Playboy Channel on Escapade debuted as a four-hour
programming block Block programming (also known as a strand in British broadcasting) is the arrangement of programs on radio or television so that those of a particular genre, theme, or target audience are united. Overview Block programming involves scheduling a ...
. The first program was an interview with
John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
and
Bo Derek Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins; November 20, 1956) is an American actress and model. She began her career as a child model before deciding to pursue acting on the advice of a talent agent she met through actress Ann-Margret, who was acqua ...
, followed by footage of January
playmate A Playmate is a female model featured in the centerfold/gatefold of ''Playboy'' magazine as Playmate of the Month (PMOTM). The PMOTM's pictorial includes nude photographs and a centerfold poster, along with a pictorial biography and the "Playm ...
Shannon Tweed Shannon Lee Tweed Simmons (born March 10, 1957) is a Canadian model and actress. One of the most successful actresses of mainstream erotica, she is identified with the genre of the erotic thriller cinema. Tweed has appeared in more than 60 film ...
, the
West German West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republic after its capital c ...
adult movie ''
Vanessa Vanessa may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Vanessa'' (Millais painting), an 1868 painting by Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais * ''Vanessa'', a 1933 novel by Hugh Walpole * ''Vanessa'', a 1952 instrumental song written by Bernie W ...
'', and magazine features including "Ribald Classics". Over the months that followed, Escapade would gradually increase the amount of Playboy programming. The channel officially relaunched as the Playboy Channel on November 18, 1982. The original programming and style of the Playboy Channel was developed by
Hugh Hefner Hugh Marston Hefner (April 9, 1926 – September 27, 2017) was an American magazine publisher. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of ''Playboy'' magazine, a publication with revealing photographs and articles. Hefner extended the ''Playboy ...
, and producer
Michael Trikilis Michael Trikilis (July 14, 1940 – December 28, 2019) was an American film and television producer, known mostly for his involvement with Playboy TV. In 1981, Trikilis, along with Hugh Hefner, developed much of the original programming for "The ...
. Playboy hired its own sales and marketing staff and launched the channel on several major multiple system operators. At the time of its launch, programming consisted of R-rated films plus a music video program, ''Playboy's Hot Rocks'', based on the then-new cable channel
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
but with more explicit videos usually only seen at nightclubs. The channel was broadcast for only ten hours each day, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, during its first eleven years. In October 1983, Rainbow Media exited the partnership by selling its share to Playboy, but would continue to distribute the channel until 1986. The channel re-launched as Playboy at Night on November 1, 1989. During this era, original programming contained NR-rated films. The network expanded its programming with the adoption of a 24-hour schedule and adopted its current name in 1994. In 2008, the channel launched its HD simulcast feed under the name "Playboy TV HD". In November 2011, Playboy Enterprises sold its ownership of its media properties (including the
Spice Networks The Spice Networks are a group of television channels operated on a pay-per-view basis that broadcast pornographic content. The channels are owned by the adult entertainment conglomerate Aylo, but they were originally launched by Playboy Ent ...
) to Manwin (later MindGeek and Aylo), who would operate them, including Playboy TV, under the "Playboy Plus Entertainment" subsidiary. Although Playboy Enterprises later re-acquired their website, Aylo still continues to operate Playboy TV under license. In spring 2023, Playboy TV launched on Tricolor TV.


Programming

Playboy TV was originally developed as a video version of ''
Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...
'' magazine. Programming featured music reviews, celebrity interviews, men's fashion and segments on cars. It was a video extension of the magazine - an established lifestyle brand. Slowly the programming on the channel evolved to feature more attractive women and eventually soft core features. This then evolved to what would become more standard television programming with a focus primarily on a male demographic. In 2010, Playboy TV unveiled a new program slate, which featured series tailored to both male and female viewers.


Programs on Playboy TV

*'' 69 Sexy Things 2 Do B4 U Die'' *'' Around the World in 80 Babes'' *'' Brooklyn Kinda Love'' *''Candid
Candid Camera ''Candid Camera'' is an American hidden camera and practical joke reality television series. The show was created, developed, and presented by Allen Funt. Various versions of the show have appeared on television from 1948 to 2014. The program ...
'' *''
Canoga Park Canoga Park is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Before the Mexican–American War, the district was part of a rancho, and after the American victory it was converted into wheat farms and ...
'' *''
Cougar Club ''Cougar Club'' is a 2007 American comedy film directed by Christopher Duddy. The film details the attempts of two college graduates, Marshall Hogan III and Spence Holmes, to find direction in life. While working as interns for abusive divorce l ...
'' *''
Dark Justice ''Dark Justice'' is an American crime drama television series about a judge who becomes a vigilante by night so that he can bring high-level offenders who use Legal technicality, technicalities to "escape" the legal system to what he calls "dar ...
'' *'' The Tryst List'' *'' Early Bird Yoga'' *''
E-Rotic E-Rotic is a Eurodance duo act formed in 1994 by German record producer David Brandes. The act is best known in Europe for the hits " Max Don't Have Sex With Your Ex" and " Fred Come to Bed". E-Rotic originally consisted of German born singer ...
'' *'' Electric Blue'' *''
Fantasies Fantasy is a genre of fiction. Fantasy, Fantasie, or Fantasies may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Fantasia (music), a free-form musical composition * ''Fantasie'' (Widmann), a 1993 composition for solo clarinet by Jörg Widmann * ...
'' *'' FrolicMe Passion'' *'' FrolicMe Stories'' *''Hot Babes Doing Stuff Naked'' *''Inside Out'' *'' Intimate Tales'' *''Jazmin's Touch'' *'' Jenna's American Sex Star'' *'' King of Clubs'' *'' Money Talks'' *'' Naughty Amateur Home Videos'' *'' Night Calls'' *'' Playboy Centerfolds'' *'' Playboy Muses'' *''
Playboy Shootout ''Playboy Shootout'' was an adult reality competition airing on Playboy TV produced by America's Next Top Model director Claudia Frank. Hosted by Brande Roderick, it pits 10 professional photographers and 10 models in a series of photo shoot e ...
'' *'' Playmates!'' *''Really Naked Truth'' *''
Sam's Game ''Sam's Game'' was a celebrity poker program on Playboy TV. It featured a line-up of comedians, Playmates, and professional Texas Hold 'Em players, and it was hosted by '' Simpsons co-developer, Sam Simon. Format Shot at Hugh Hefner's privat ...
'' *'' School of Sex'' *'' Search for the Perfect Girlfriend'' *'' Secret Sessions'' *'' Seduction Principles'' *'' Seven Motives'' *''
Sex Court Sex Court is a US adult-themed cable TV show that was produced by 'Playboy Magazine Productions that made its debut on Playboy TV in 1998. It starred Julie Strain, Alexandra Silk, an unknown man who played the Sex Court 'Bodyguard', Henry, and ...
'' *''
Sexcetera ''Sexcetera'' is an American television newsmagazine airing on Playboy TV, focused on human sexuality, that was broadcast from 1998 until 2005. ''Sexcetera'' ran for more than 106 episodes. By the time the program went off the air in 2005, it ha ...
'' *'' Spa X'' *'' Suite Rendezvous'' *'' Sexcape'' *'' Show Us Your Wits'' * ''Surfing Attraction'' *'' Swing'' *'' Tales of Erotica'' *'' The Life Erotic'' *'' The Tryst List'' *''
Totally Busted ''Totally Busted'' is an adult hidden camera practical joke series that ran original episodes from 2003 to 2006 on Playboy TV. Format ''Totally Busted'' bears a strong resemblance to past practical joke shows like ''Candid Camera'' and ''Punk'd ...
'' *''
Triple Play In baseball or softball, a triple play (denoted as TP in baseball statistics) is the act of making three out (baseball), outs during the same play. There have only been 739 triple plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1876, an average of ju ...
'' *''
Undercover A cover in foreign, military or police human intelligence or counterintelligence is the ostensible identity and role or position in an infiltrated organization assumed by a covert agent during a covert operation. Official cover In espionage, a ...
'' * Women on Sex *'' World of Playboy''


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Playboy Tv American pornographic television channels American pornographic film studios Television networks in the United States Commercial-free television networks Playboy Television channels and stations established in 1979 Men's interest channels Nudity in television Softcore pornography Television pornography