Lifetime (British and Irish TV channel)

Lifetime was a British entertainment television channel that launched on 4 November 2013,[1] that was owned by A&E Networks UK, a joint venture between A&E Networks and Sky Group. The channel replaced Bio.

Lifetime
Wear it like Lifetime
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerA&E Networks UK (A&E Networks/Sky Group)
Sister channelsBlaze
Crime+Investigation
Sky History
Sky History 2
History
Launched4 November 2013; 11 years ago (2013-11-04)
ReplacedBio
Closed1 March 2021; 3 years ago (2021-03-01)
Replaced bySky Mix
Links
Websitewww.lifetimetv.co.uk
Availability
(at time of closure)
Streaming media
Sky GoWatch live (UK and Ireland only)
Virgin TV GoWatch live (UK only)
Watch live (Ireland only)
TalkTalk TVWatch live (UK only)
BT TVWatch live (UK only)

On 6 November 2018, the European Commission required The Walt Disney Company to sell A&E's European channels, including Lifetime.[2]

Programmes aired in the past on the channel included American Lifetime originals such as The Client List, Damages, Witches of East End,[3] and an original series called The Proposers.[4]

It launched on TalkTalk on 28 August 2014 along with its sister channels.

The network was unsuccessful in establishing itself in the market, as Lifetime's American original programming generally already aired on other networks, and remained so even after the launch of the domestic Lifetime; it was forced to carry out-of-format programming from American sister network A&E and History to maintain a full schedule, and it had limited original programming output, including Dance Mums, a local spin-off of Dance Moms that only lasted two series. The network's last prime programming, daily runs and premieres of the American series Judge Judy, left its schedule in 2019, and within months, it began to decline as a going concern.

On 24 January 2019, the HD version closed on Sky. On 7 March 2019, the +1 version closed on all platforms.[5][6] The network shut down in its entirety at 12:00am and removed at 6:00 on 1 March 2021.[7][8]

Closure

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A+E Networks announced on the 11th February 2021 that Lifetime would be closing on all platforms at the end of the month.[9][10] A+E made an agreement with Discovery, Inc. that the channels original content would move to Discovery +. The last programme that aired was an episode of Sex Lies and Murder. The channel then aired two Crime and Investigation trailers and a trailer for Bringing Up Bates. It then closed at 12:00 am and removed at 6:00 am on the 1st March 2021.

Former programming

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "November UK launch for A+E's Lifetime". Broadband TV News. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  2. ^ Roxborough, Scott (6 November 2018). "Disney's Fox Deal Gets European Union Clearance Subject to Divestments". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ Munn, Patrick (20 September 2013). "Lifetime Acquires UK Rights To 'Witches of East End'". TVWise. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  4. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (4 July 2013). "Lifetime to launch in the UK, to air 'Damages', 'Liz & Dick'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Lifetime HD closes today 24 January 2019". Sky. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. (subscription required)
  6. ^ "Lifetime+1 is closing on 7 March". Sky. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  7. ^ RXTV-newsdesk (18 February 2021). "Lifetime finally shuts down". RXTV info. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Lifetime channel to close in UK and Ireland". Media Mole. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  9. ^ RXTV-newsdesk (18 February 2021). "Lifetime finally shuts down". RXTV info. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: Lifetime channel to close in UK and Ireland". Media Mole. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
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