TMF UK

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TMF UK
Launched	October 31, 2002
Owned by	MTV Networks Europe
Audience share	0.3% (February 2008, [1])
Country	United Kingdom
Broadcast area	British Isles
Website	www.mtv.co.uk/tmf
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview	Channel 21
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 348
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 313/303
UPC Ireland	Channel 709

TMF UK is a music video and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom (also broadcasts to Ireland), owned by MTV Networks Europe and is originally a Dutch channel. Formed after the two other TMF stations, which are based in mainland Europe, the channel was created to counter against EMAP's The Hits channel on the new free-to-air digital television service Freeview in 2002.

Upon launch, TMF UK's description was "TMF is designed to replicate the rhythms of the whole family, playing the best pop videos with the biggest pop stars to become the sound track to the British family life." However, it has now broadened its content to show programmes from its sister channels MTV One, VH1, Nick Jr and Paramount Comedy, so no longer relies on just music videos.

TMF UK's current Freeview channel is channel 21, and the channel broadcasts on Multiplex D. The channel also broadcasts on cable and satellite television, as well as in some Irish cable packages (it has 'text-in' numbers for both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). The channel shows a mixture of music videos and programmes, and is currently the most viewed music video related station in the UK, according to BARB ratings.

TMF UK had a new look on screen graphics in March 2008 to match the other MTV UK channels. The previous on screen graphics were used since July 2005 and the original on screen graphics were used since October 2002. The original DOG was on the top right of the screen, it has been moved to the top left of the screen since July 2005. Interestingly enough, the new look TMF UK still uses the old pre-2007 TMF logo where as both the Dutch and Belgian TMF channels adapted the new logo.

[edit] Shows on TMF UK

[edit] MTV One/VH1 programming

TMF initially launched as a non-stop music channel, though from early 2004 began to show various programmes from MTV One and VH1. These include Beavis and Butt-head, Made, MTV Cribs, Room Raiders and Date My Mom, Drawn Together from MTV, and The Fabulous Life of..., My Fair Brady, Hogan Knows Best and The Surreal Life from VH1.

[edit] Nick Jr programming

Nick Jr on TMF is a children's television slot broadcast on TMF from 7am to 9am daily. It replaced the strand Noggin on 25 September 2006, but its programming has remained identical. It uses the same ident and presentation package as its main sister, Nick Jr. The reason for the change is yet unknown, but could possibly due to the fact the brand Nick Jr is more well known in the United Kingdom than the brand Noggin. Programmes shown include LazyTown, Dora the Explorer and The Backyardigans amongst others.

Noggin was the first commercial children's television channel to air on the UK's DTT platform, Freeview, followed by CITV, then lastly Playhouse Disney on ABC1.

[edit] Paramount Comedy programming

In January 2007 TMF began showing comedies broadcast on Paramount Comedy, in a strand entitled Comedy Classics. These have included the likes of The Wonder Years, Ally McBeal and Cheers, as well as various Paramount films. During The Friday Movie strand, the channel's DOG changes to an enlarged version, with a re-arranged name displaying "TFM".

[edit] Own Programming

In August 2005, TMF commissioned two new shows called Pop the Q and Game One. In early 2006 came The Loaded Hour (a male-orientated themed show named after the magazine sponsor, fronted by Kate Edmondson), and in the summer a new live show called TMF Live (presented again by Kate Edmondson, as well as TMF News anchor Carole Machin). With the exception of Pop the Q, none of the shows have had a second series.

[edit] External links

• TMF at MTV.co.uk