UKBC

**UKBC** is a British television network that has been on air since 17th September, 2021. The network is made up of multiple regional contractors. The channel broadcasts on Freeview channel 6, Sky channel 106, Virgin channel 106 and Freesat 106. It is the UK's fifth major public service broadcaster, following the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5.

## History

In 2017, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, expressed fears about the lack of regional broadcasting in the country. Ofcom took notice and announced they a new network would launch within five years, using the old ITV system.

In 2018, the United Kingdom Broadcasting Corporation, or UKBC for short, was formed, intending to launch in 2020.

Six franchises were initially assigned in major areas of the country: London Weekday, London Weekend, North West, the Midlands and two national franchises to provide news and breakfast programmes.

The first franchise to be sold was the North West franchise, to be owned by L2 Holdings, but was known as Fuse plc by the time of UKBC's launch.

The breakfast franchise then ended up with local:AM plc owned by the same owner of the 3Network, who planned to offer a more regional service compared to other channels at that time.

Ziyaad Jamil was given ownership of the Midlands franchise in June - forming Middle Television plc.

L2 Holdings got hold of a second franchise in September, the London Weekday franchise.

The London Weekend franchise was sold to Maxton PLC in January 2019.

Following this, Manx Television, plc, who had a close connection with ITV since their formation in the 50's, announced they would swap ITV for UKBC when it came on air, in March 2019.

The franchise for the Channel Islands was awarded to Anglo-Norman Television in June 2019, coming from the same group as local:AM.

October 2019 saw the South of England franchise handed to Sunset Breeze Television.

In November 2019, the contract for providing news for the network was handed to Reuters.

1st January 2020 was the closure of the initial period for franchise applications, as UKBC had initially been slated to launch in the summer of 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch of the network was constantly put back, eventually to September of 2021.

In an attempt to drive up hype for the channel, a large scale advertising campaign was commissioned by the network for Saatchi & Saatchi, launched in May 2021.

### Launch

Amid much hype and promotion, UKBC finally went on air at 7pm on Friday 17th September, 2021.

The channel's first programme, a showcase fronted by Claudia Winkleman & Marty Whelan, attracted 11.5 million viewers, 30% were 16-34.

Following at 8pm was the first edition of UKBC Eye, a current affairs programme produced by Manx Television, then the first episode of the short lived Midcross at 8.30, and Sun Hill, a two-part revival miniseries of The Bill, at 9pm.

Following a regional slot at 10pm was UKBC National News at 10.30pm.

The highest rated programme outside of the launch show was Sun Hill, which gained 8.3 million viewers at nine o'clock.

There were initial concerns from some of the franchises about the flagship news programme going out at half past ten, in direct competition with *Newsnight* on BBC Two. As a result, UKBC announced it would reshuffle it's news output immediately.

Rivergate, a soap set in a Welsh village, debuted on Monday 20th September, and became a semi-success for the channel, though it started slow being slotted against Coronation Street.

1. ↑ Owners of Fuse to broadcast in the North West (The Guardian; 16th March 2018)
2. ↑ Local breakfast programmes will form a part of new sixth channel. (The Sunday Times; 6th May 2018)
3. ↑ L2 Holdings bags prime slot for new "UKBC". (The Telegraph: 3rd September 2018)
4. ↑ ITV franchise swaps to the new sixth channel (The Observer: 24th March 2019)
5. ↑ UKBC launches huge pre-launch ad campaign (The Times, 14th May 2021)
6. ↑ UKBC staff raise concerns about 10.30 news (The Guardian, 21st September 2021)