TCM Movies

TCM Movies is a subscription digital television channel featuring classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and Warner Bros. film libraries, which include many MGM titles.

This article is about the UK television channel. For the USA and other countries' versions of Turner Classic Movies, see Turner Classic Movies and Turner Classic Movies (around the world).

TCM Movies
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Gibraltar
HeadquartersTurner House,
Great Marlborough Street,
London, United Kingdom
Programming
Picture format576i (SDTV) 16:9
1080i (HDTV)
Timeshift serviceTCM Movies +1
Ownership
OwnerWarnerMedia International
Sister channelsBoomerang
Cartoonito
CNN International
Cartoon Network
History
Launched15 October 1999 (1999-10-15)
ReplacedTNT
Former namesTurner Classic Movies (1999-2019)
Links
Websitewww.tcmuk.tv
Availability
Cable
Virgin MediaChannel 415
Channel 416 (HD)
Channel 417 (+1)
WightFibreChannel 37
Virgin Media IrelandChannel 327
Channel 328 (+1)
NaxooChannel 49
Satellite
SkyChannel 315
Channel 316 (+1)
IPTV
TalkTalkChannel 512
BTChannel 512
Eir VisionChannel 317

History

It was launched in 1999, when its predecessor, TNT, dropped its film programming to become a general entertainment channel. Its penetration increased when it took over TNT's space on various platforms on 1 July 2000.[1]

Unlike other versions of Turner Classic Movies and the other Turner channels in the UK, Turner Classic Movies UK was for a long time broadcast free-to-air. The channel became encrypted in January 2004 when it joined Sky's subscription packages.[2]

In 2009, Turner Classic Movies received a graphical makeover and a new logo in an attempt to attract a younger audience. With the makeover several new films were added to the channel's catalogue.[3] A high definition version of the channel launched on 4 September 2012,[4] at the same time the standard definition version began broadcasting in 16:9 widescreen, whereas Turner Classic Movies 2 continued to be broadcast in 4:3.

On 2 March 2009, Turner Classic Movies UK sold the Sky EPG slot, when Travel Channel 2 closed.

A one-hour timeshift, Turner Classic Movies +1, launched on 13 August 2013, replacing Turner Classic Movies 2.[5]

On 25 July 2019, the HD channel closed on Sky.[6]

Turner Classic Movies was renamed TCM Movies on 1 August 2019.

Television series

Turner Classic Movies 2

Turner Classic Movies 2 (TCM 2) was a British television channel. It was a UK-only spin-off channel from the UK version of Turner Classic Movies, and showed popular films from the Turner Entertainment library (which includes MGM and Warner Bros. films).

Films were shown from 8pm to 4am (interspersed with various original short films about the films) from Monday-Sunday, and the following week included a new line-up. This allowed the viewer to "catch-up on the big films", thus allowing the chance to see the preferred film on any day of the week. The channel timeshared with Cartoonito, another UK-only spin-off channel. The channel began airing Adult Swim at 10pm every Wednesday as of 4 January 2012, before moving to Friday later in April 2012.[7]

For unknown reasons, Turner Classic Movies 2 closed at 4am on 13 August 2013 and was replaced by Turner Classic Movies +1 later in the day.[5]

Adult Swim

As Adult Swim shows cannot be shown on the UK version of Cartoon Network (as Ofcom regulated children's channels are not allowed to broadcast adult content), they were shown on Turner Classic Movies 2 instead. They typically started at 1:15 AM on Saturday and included shows such as:[8]

TNT UK
TNT logo

TNT UK was launched on 17 September 1993 along with Cartoon Network UK. The two channels shared the same transponder with Cartoon Network broadcasting during the day with TNT taking over for the evening and overnight period. Initially TNT was on air from 7pm until 5am although in 1996 TNT's start time was pushed back to 9pm. In the early years TNT was primarily a movie channel although the final year saw the channel move to a general entertainment schedule until TNT (UK) was replaced by Turner Classic Movies on 1 July 2000. Its old slogan was "Classic Movies".

World Championship Wrestling launched on TNT (UK) in April 1996 with WCW Monday Nitro. On 9 October 1998 WCW Thunder was added. Both aired in a 9pm to 12.30am (variant) block starting with the debut of Thunder. When TNT (UK) was closed down, WCW programming was briefly moved over to Turner Classic Movies and then Bravo. Trailers aired on Turner Classic Movies informing viewers of the change.

WCW Nitro

  • 1996 to 1997 - Friday Nights - 9pm - 10pm
  • 1997 to 1998 - Friday Nights - 9pm - 11pm
  • 1998 to 2000 - Friday Nights - 9pm - 11.35pm
  • 2000 - Friday Nights - 9pm - 11pm

(WCW Nitro then changed to Bravo in 2000, on Thursday Nights - 9pm - 11pm, until March 2001, when WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation).

WCW Thunder

  • 9 October 1998 to 2000 - Friday Nights - 11.35pm - 1am

See also

References
  1. "Timeline: Turner Broadcasting System Europe LTD". Turner Info. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2006.
  2. "TCM encrypts on satellite". Digital Spy. 6 January 2004.
  3. "Turner Classic Movies unveils ambitious plans to win younger film fan demographic". Turner Media Innovations. 9 June 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010.
  4. "TCM Movies channel launching in HD on Sky". Digital Spy. 31 August 2012.
  5. "System Updates". Overnights.tv. 22 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016. TCM2 will cease broadcasting at the end of the broadcast day on 12th August, 2013. TCM +1 will be BARB reported from 13th August, 2013.
  6. "TCM HD service to end on Sky". RXTV LOG. 6 January 2004.
  7. What's on
  8. "Listings from TCM and TCM2". TCM. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
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