Channel 7

**Channel 7 Broadcasting** (doing business as **Channel 7**) is a British free-to-air terrestrial broadcast television channel owned and operated by the Columbia Entertainment Holdings division, Channel 7 Entertainment. It is broadcast in the United Kingdom, Scotland, and Ireland area. It acts as a seventh free-to-air network in the United Kingdom as well., headquarted at the Fulham Centre in London, England.

It was founded on January 26, 2023, and production on two of it's major dramas started production, Last Midnight and Valérian and Laureline, started.

## History

On January 26, 2023, Columbia Entertainment Holdings subsidiary Columbia Networks Global bought That's TV and London Live, and announced shortly after that they will merge the two networks into creating a seventh major free-to-air network in the United Kingdom.

A few days later, studios started to develop on major drama and comedy productions that will air during the summer and fall.

On May 1, 2023, it was announced that the network will officially launch on July 7, 2023.

During May, Channel 7 ordered a series of unscripted television series that will launch alongside the network. Later that month, Channel 7 acquired local and overseas programming to air alongside the unscripted television series.

### Projections

During Q3 2023-Q2 2024, interim President and Controller Jay Hunt is expecting Channel 7 to perform decently well, with a 4.75 monthly share and approx 10 average minutes viewed daily, potentially even more with more regular live Formula One broadcasts, EuroLeague broadcasts, La Liga broadcasts, and Premier League broadcasts supplementing the channel.

## Scheduling

Usually originals air during the weekends (Friday night to Sunday night) as well on Mondays, with the rest of the week having sports taking up the bulk of the schedule alongside movies.

## Programming

### Original programming

#### Drama

* Last Midnight (Fall 2023)
* Valérian and Laureline (Early 2024)
* The Restaurant (English-language remake, Spring 2024)
* Alex Rider Season 3 (2024)
* Red Shadows (English-language remake, Summer 2024)
* Big Brother: Police State (Summer 2024)
	+ Co-production with Columbia Network
* Unknown Entity (Fall 2024)
* Last Midnight (Season 2) (Fall 2024)
* Section Zero (English-language remake, Fall 2024)
* Valérian and Laureline (Season 2) (Spring 2025)

#### Comedy

* Proper School (Fall 2023)
	+ Co-production with Fox Entertainment Studios
* Strangers (Fall 2023)
* This Christmas (Christmas 2023)
* Hell Park (Spring 2024)
* The Department (Spring 2024)
* Mini Mart (Summer 2024)

#### Movies

* Detective Smith Stories (July 31, 2023-future)

#### Unscripted

* The Crystal Maze (Summer 2023)
* The Gong Show (Summer 2023)
* The Whole 19 Meters (Summer 2023)
* Pop Idol (Summer 2023)
* Pub Rescue (Summer 2023)

#### News

* Early Morning Breakfast
	+ Weekdays from 5a-6:30a
* Channel 7 Breakfast
	+ Weekdays from 6:30a-8a
* AM Headlines
	+ Weekdays from 8a-8:30a
* Sports Headlines
	+ Weekdays from 8:30a-9a
* Channel 7 News
	+ Weeknights at 6:30pm and 12am.

#### C7 Sports

* 2023 ATP Finals
	+ Acquired from Prime Video
* EuroLeague
	+ Starts 23-24, Package A, acquired from IMG
		- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays primetime package, with exclusive rights to the EuroLeague Final Four
* FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
	+ Select live matches of non-European (UEFA) teams, acquired from Viaplay Sport
* Formula One
	+ Starts 2024, six live races, and weekly highlights; acquired from FOM
* La Liga
	+ Starts 23-24, select live matches, acquired from Viaplay Sport
* NHL Stanley Cup Finals
	+ Starts 23-24, alternates between Channel 7 and Channel 5
* Premier League
	+ Starts 23-24, select matches, acquired from Prime Video
* World Figure Skating Championships
	+ Starts 2023, acquired from Viaplay Sport

### Acquired programming

* Accused (2023, USA)
	+ From Columbia Pictures Television and Fox Entertainment Studios
* Alex Rider Season 1 and Season 2
	+ From Columbia Pictures Television
* Bonn
	+ From Leonine Studios
* Protocol
	+ From Columbia Pictures Television
* SurrealEstate
	+ From Leonine Studios
* Three Pines
	+ From Columbia Pictures Television and Amazon Studios
* TROPPO
	+ From Leonine Studios

## Television rating system

Unlike other broadcasters in the United Kingdom, Channel 7 has a self-imposed rating system akin to some European countries and the UK Film rating system.

* G (General Audience Program)
* 7+ (Program Suitable For Ages 7 and up)
* 10+ (Program Suitable For Ages 10 and up)
* 13+ (Program Suitable For Ages 13 and up)
* 15+ (Program Suitable For Ages 15 and up)
* 17+ (Program Suitable For Ages 17 and up)
* 18+ (Program Suitable for Adults aged 18 and over)