Expect the hype for new TV channel Virgin 1 to start ramping up over the next week, in preparation for its launch next Monday, October 1.
The channel’s website has gone into preview mode right now, with a video embodying the slogan “No soaps, no makeovers, no nonsense, just proper telly”. So far, their programming seems to consist of mainly US imports — opening night launches with the UK premiere of The Riches, starring Brits Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as con artists, for example (see Rob Buckley’s verdict on the first three episodes). Later on, the channel will be showing Terminator spin-off The Sarah Connor Chronicles, starring Summer “River off Firefly” Glau and Thomas “Zach off Heroes” Dekker.
Elsewhere in the schedule, there’ll be the occasional documentary. Unfortunately, opening night’s example of the genre is Penis Envy, a “cockumentary”, but we’re promised an investigation into the UK criminal underworld by former BBC man Rageh Omar, which is hopefully going to be better than Sky One’s Ross Kemp on Gangs. And the as-yet-formally-titled “Leo Houlding Project” sees the famous rock climber take some rookie climbers on the journey of a lifetime.
Virgin 1 will also be carrying series that have had various outings on other Virgin Media (formerly Flextech) channels, including The Unit, Criminal Minds and Sexcetera. But other than that, the schedules are filled with Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Knight Rider reruns.
From that line-up, it’s hard to get a handle on the sort of channel Virgin 1 thinks it is. But at least it’s going to be widely available: from launch, it’s not only available on Virgin TV, but on Sky and Freeview as well.
- Virgin 1 launches on October 1, on Freeview channel 20, Sky channel 153 and Virgin channel 122
If they really wanted to make an impact, they surely could have programmed a better schedule for the first few days? It looks cheap and tacky, frankly.
I've just been watching a trailer for Virgin 1 and I'm really impressed, they've got loads of quality stuff coming our way, take a look... http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/virgin1/virgin1-preview-clip.php
Oh the trailers look lovely. It's the actual schedules that let it down.
I'm very much looking forward to reminding myself on a nightly basis just how rubbish Avery Brooks was in DS9
Hmm... Chanel 20 won't show down in Cornwall. Drags up Virgin 1 insignia and then switches to a notice that it starts at 6pm. Got to take all my Trekkie gear off now!
It looks like Freeview only gets Virgin 1 between 6pm and 6am, Ricky -- replacing the old Ftn transmission.
Thanks for that Scott.
Thought that was what it must be but was hoping I was making a mistake. Oh well...............
Cheers