- Talking Pictures and That’s TV about to get new competitor as Rewind TV prepares to unlock more gems from the broadcasting vaults.
UPDATED | Sheffield-based Rewind TV has confirmed it will be launching on Sky’s satellite TV service later this month, with a launch on other platforms to follow.
The channel promises to offer a range of classic entertainment shows from yesteryear, tapping in to a growing market for screening vintage television from the past century.
Rewind TV is planning to launch on Sky on Thursday 23rd May 2024. It’s launch line-up includes late night 1990s comedy from Channel 4, with Drop The Dead Donkey and Clive Anderson’s Whose Line Is It Anyway featuring from 10pm. Earlier in the evening, from 8pm, the channel will screen vintage drama series Return of The Saint and Department S. And the channel will be screening episodes of the long-running documentary Whicker’s World in its late afternoon schedule.
Test transmissions are already underway on satellite in preparation for the launch of Rewind TV on Sky.
Rewind TV will be available across the UK on Sky channel 190.
New broadcasters open up UK broadcasting archives
Rewind TV is the latest new upstart channel unlocking UK broadcasting archives. While the early days of multi-channel television saw numerous channels launch featuring older shows and movies, many of these channels now focus on more recent, post-2000 shows, leaving many older shows on the shelf. In response, a new generation of broadcasters has been licensing older BBC and Channel 4 shows, as well as tapping into the archives of former ITV companies.
Family owned Talking Pictures was the first, launching nine years ago this month, bringing back older movies and shows that were once staple of BBC Two and Channel 4’s afternoon schedules. Later, in the early 2020s, That’s TV got in the act, launching multiple channels screening older BBC and ITV shows and vintage music videos. Forces TV, which closed in 2022, used its evening schedules to screen older comedies and dramas.
Rewind TV satellite manual tuning information
Satellite: Astra 2G Frequency: 11082 Polarisation: Horizontal Symbol Rate: 22000 FEC: 5/6 Mode: DVB-S QPSK Service ID: 50327
Manual tuning information as of 12:00 BST 7th May 2024. Test transmissions are subject to interruptions, encryption, parameter changes at no notice.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Rewind TV screengrab | Source: Satellite feed monitoring | Updated: 16/05/2024 09:29 following confirmation of Sky channel number.