UKTV Drama

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UKTV Drama

Launched	31 March 2000
Owned by	UKTV (BBC/Virgin Media Television)
Audience share	0.5% (0.1% for +1) (February 2007, [1])
Formerly called	UK Drama (until March 04) UK Arena
Timeshift service	UKTV Drama +1
Website	www.uktvdrama.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 133 Channel 134 (+1)
Cable
Virgin Media (NTL)	Channel 129
Virgin Media (Telewest)	Channel 147

UKTV Drama is a digital television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom, as part of the UKTV network of channels.

It was originally launched as UK Arena on 1 November 1997, as the newly-formed UKTV Network's arts channel. The name derives from the BBC's flagship arts program Arena.

Initial ratings were disappointing and it was decided to relaunched the channel on 31 March 2000 as UK Drama, with a focus on showing dramas rather than as a general arts program. Along with the rest of the network, the "UK" prefix was changed to "UKTV" on 8 March 2004.

On the 2 May 2006, the UKTV Drama +1 service was launched to replace UKTV People +1.

The channel is available on Sky Digital and Virgin Media.

[edit] Programmes

The output of the channel is mainly drama series and serials from the BBC archive. However some of the schedule is filled by comedy shows, more appropriate for UKTV Gold or UKTV G2 for example. UKTV Drama's programming include: