Launched 1 September 1996 Country United Kingdom Founded 1996 | Closed 2 September 2001 Formerly called The Computer Channel Owner Sky plc | |
Owned by British Sky Broadcasting Astra 1E 10847 V (Analogue, until 5 April 2000) |
.tv (Pronounced as 'Dot TV', referred to onscreen as .tv - the technology channel) was a British television channel dedicated to technology. .tv was owned and operated by British Sky Broadcasting. The channel began broadcasting on 1 September 1996 as The Computer Channel and broadcast between 18:00 and 20:00. The broadcasting hours were increased to midday-midnight when The Computer Channel (later .tv) started broadcasting on British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite platform, Sky Digital in 1998. In 1999 the channel interviewed then Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.
Towards the end of its run, .tv implemented several new shows heavily sponsored by online technology store dabs.com, promoting products which were available at that site. .tv was closed on 2 September 2001 because of low audience ratings. Most of the programmes were produced by Hewland International.
Programming
Buyers Guide, Masterclass and Chips with Everything were repeated as omnibus editions (the weekday editions broadcast as one programme) on weekends.