U (TV channel)
| U | |
|---|---|
TVNZ U Logo
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| Launched | 13 March 2011 |
| Closed | 31 August 2013 |
| Owned by | TVNZ |
| Picture format | 16:9 (576i, SDTV) |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Replaced by | TV2 plus 1 |
| Sister channel(s) | |
| Website | tvnz.co.nz/u |
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Availability
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| Terrestrial | |
| DVB 64-QAM on band IV | |
| Satellite | |
| DVB QPSK on 12483 MHz | |
| Cable | |
| DVB QAM | |
U was an interactive youth-oriented New Zealand television channel, owned and operated by TVNZ. The channel launched on 13 March 2011, and featured reality programming, as well as an interactive live show and music content. It replaced the now defunct TVNZ 6. Leading up to the launch of U, there were 13 days' worth of promotional videos and programming information aired to advertise the new channel.
Initially, U closed down every night at midnight, playing the Goodnight Kiwi animation to signal the end of nightly broadcast. During its closedown period of 12-midnight to 12-noon, the channel looped a video of non-stop dancing with text reading U 'returns at midday'.
From February 2012, the channel began broadcasting informercials from midnight until midday, except on Sunday mornings, when it is illegal to broadcast adverts. On Sunday, the channel closes down as usual, with infomercials played until 6am, a graphic is displayed from 6am until midday, and then the broadcast 'returns at midday'.
In April 2013, the channel launched U Late, a late night version of its flagship programme U Live, but without the music videos. It was described as late night antics and chat, live and interactive every evening.
The channel ceased broadcast on 31 August 2013.
In preparation of the launch of U, TVNZ established a Facebook page for their new channel, giving fans information and offering one person the chance to schedule a selected segment of programming on the new channel for a month (known as U TV). On the evening of 28 February 2011, TVNZ 6 was officially shut down, allowing TVNZ to air promotional material for the new channel. At 3 pm on 9 March 2011, TVNZ activated its U Live application on Facebook, which, upon the launch of the channel, would allow users to share content and have it displayed as part of the U Live TV show.
U was launched on 13 March 2011 at 4:00 pm on Freeview channel 6 and Sky channel 16. The first program to air was U Live.
TVNZ decided to close U on 31 August 2013 at 7pm after two years running at a loss. TVNZ announced that time-shift channel TV2+1 would launch to replace the channel on 1 September 2013 at 7am. The final show to screen on U was U Live with the entire crew giving a farewell message, the final song to play on U Live was 2 Times by Ann Lee. After the end credits for U Live, a message was displayed on the U channel advising viewers of the new channel number for TV One +1 and TV2+1 (now TVNZ 1 +1 and TVNZ 2 +1 respectively). The channel numbers vary for viewers of Sky, Freeview and Igloo.
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Wikipedia