Editing U&Dave (section)

==History of U&Dave==

===UK Gold Classics and UK Gold 2 (1998–2003)===
UK Gold Classics was UKTV's first digital-only channel. It was launched on 2 October 1998, and was only broadcast from Friday to Sunday on [[Sky UK|Sky Digital]] from 6.00pm to 2.00am.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Around this time, [[U&Gold|UK Gold]] began to move away from older programmes and towards newer ones. Their 'classics' line-up included a number of early shows, and some black-and-white programmes, which had been acquired in the early years of the UK Gold service.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} While Gold Classics showed some recent shows from the main Gold channel, its main purpose was older shows from the early years of UK Gold.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} On weekdays, the channel was off air, showing a still caption of all the UKTV channels and start-up times.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Some of the programmes that aired on UK Gold Classics were a repeat run of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] comedy series ''[[Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt]]'',<ref>{{cite journal |title=TV guide |journal=The Express |date=5 March 1999 |page=61 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/904314826/?terms=%22selwyn%20froggitt%22%20&match=1 |access-date=4 March 2023}}</ref> [[BBC]] comedy series ''[[Open All Hours]]'',{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} BBC soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'',{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} ITV police drama series ''[[The Bill]]'',{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} and ITV comedy series ''Gingerbread Girl''.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} Some of UK Gold's original commissioned programming that were recently aired on the main channel at the time (''Wow-fab-Groovy'', ''Tellystack'', ''Sports Anorak of the Year'', stand-up comedy show ''Live at Jongleurs'', ''Rowland Rivron Bites The Bullet'' and music show ''Gold Goes Pop'') also received airings on Gold Classics{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The 'Classics' format lasted just six months; ending on 28 March 1999. The following day, UKTV announced that the channel would be relaunched as UK Gold 2 from 2 April 1999, and eventually expand its broadcast hours.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a69/uk-gold-classics-renamed/ | title=UK Gold Classics Renamed | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=29 March 1999 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a71/uk-gold-2-update/ | title=UK Gold 2 Update | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=31 March 1999 }}</ref> UK Gold 2 essentially functioned as a secondary timeshift service, with the channel screening UK Gold's programmes from the morning of that day.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} On 24 May 1999, it was officially announced that the channel would start broadcasting daily from 1 June.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a120/uk-gold-2-to-increase-its-hours/ | title=UK Gold 2 to Increase {{as written|I|t's [sic]}} Hours | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=24 May 1999 }}</ref>

On 11 February 2002, UK Gold 2's downtime within the day became home to [[HGTV (British and Irish TV channel)|UK Style +]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a6201/new-services-channels-launch-on-dsat/|title=New services, channels launch on DSat|website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=11 February 2002}}</ref> On 29 May, the channel launched on [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a7521/new-channels-launch-on-ntlhome-digital-7521// | title=New channels launch on NTL:home digital | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=29 May 2002 }}</ref> and eventually on [[Telewest]]. On 1 August, the channel moved from 110 to 111 on the Sky EPG, to make room for UK Gold +1, which launched that day.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a8717/uk-gold-timeshift-channel-launches/ | title=UK Gold timeshift channel launches | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=August 2002 }}</ref> In July 2003, UK Style + vacated the downtime slot used by UK Gold 2 and extended its broadcast hours.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

====UK G² and UKTV G2 (2003–2007)====
On 28 October 2003, it was announced that UK Gold 2 would be relaunched and rebranded as UK G2 (stylized as UK G²) on 12 November.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2003/10/28/2984/beebs_new_comedy_channel | title=Beeb's new comedy channel : News 2003 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide }}</ref> UK G2 was promoted as being an edgier alternative to UK Gold; airing programmes aimed at an 18-34 year-old youth audience. Some of the programmes that already aired on UK Gold moved to the new network, in addition to some programmes from [[Play UK]] (which had closed the year prior). The broadcast hours were also changed, with the channel now operating from 8:00pm to 5:00am.

On 8 March 2004, in-line with its sibling channels, the channel would adopt the full "UKTV" name, becoming UKTV G2. On 1 November, near the channel's first anniversary, a one-hour timeshift service, UKTV G2 +1, was launched on Sky<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/satellite/a16709/epg-debut-for-two-new-1s-wine-tv/ | title=EPG debut for two new +1s, Wine TV | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=November 2004 }}</ref> and Telewest.,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a16710/uktv-g2-1-joins-telewest-lineup/ | title=UKTV G2 +1 joins Telewest lineup | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=November 2004 }}</ref> broadcasting from 9:00pm to 4:00am.

On 7 October 2005, it was announced that UKTV G2 would pilot a sports programming block titled "UKTV Sport". The block would include a new show by the same name, as well as its own logo and [[digital on-screen graphic]]. The block was planned to be a pilot for a dedicated TV channel of the same name, which never came into fruition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/oct/07/broadcasting.digitaltv |title=UKTV to launch sport channel &#124; Media &#124; MediaGuardian |publisher=Guardian |date= 7 October 2005|access-date=15 October 2009 | location=London | first=Tara | last=Conlan}}</ref>

====Expansion of broadcast hours and addition of live sports (2006–2007)====
On 10 December 2005, UKTV announced that UKTV G2 would expand broadcast hours to the daytime and begin operations at 9:00am beginning on 16 January 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a27205/uktv-g2-expands-hours-ups-sport/ | title=UKTV G2 expands hours, ups sport | website=[[Digital Spy]] | date=10 December 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/more-hours-means-sport-on-uktv-g2/1033388.article | title=More hours means sport on UKTV G2 }}</ref> The expansion of hours was to prepare for the full launch of the UKTV Sport strand, which would fill out some of the daytime hours during sports events. Standard programmes featured included pre-watershed comedy programmes already seen on the channel, alongside the addition of popular-factual and magazine shows which were already running on UKTV People, such as ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' and ''[[Airport (TV series)|Airport]]''. The extended hours did not apply to UKTV G2 +1, which remained an evening-only service.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In February 2006, UKTV obtained the rights to show highlights of the [[Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] [[rugby union]] championship, with a highlights show broadcast on the evening of the games previously shown live on the BBC. On 16 March 2006, they announced a deal to air extensive coverage of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] as a sub-licensing of the BBC's rights to the tournament.<ref name="uktvworldcupdeal">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds30513.html |title=Broadcasting&nbsp;– News&nbsp;– UKTV lands huge World Cup rights deal&nbsp;– Digital Spy |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=4 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211075007/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds30513.html |archive-date=11 December 2006 }}</ref> UKTV G2 [[simulcast]] the BBC's live matches, including the opening match between [[Germany national football team|Germany]] and [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]], [[England national football team|England]]'s game with [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] and the final. The channel also showed highlights of every match in the tournament.

In April 2006, the channel acquired the rights to the quarter-finals of the [[EuroLeague]] Basketball<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.c21media.net/uktv-slam-dunks-euroleague-rights/ |title=UKTV slam dunks Euroleague rights |publisher=C21 Media |access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref> and in August, UKTV G2 also picked up rights to the [[2006 FIBA World Championship]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.c21media.net/uktv-slam-dunks-new-basketball-deal/ |title=UKTV slam-dunks new basketball deal |publisher=C21 Media |access-date=19 June 2016}}</ref> forming the programme 'UKTV Slam'.

===Relaunch as Dave and Freeview launch (2007–2022)===
[[File:Dave.svg|150px|thumb|Logo used from 2007 to 2022]]
In August 2007, UKTV announced they were considering on adding a planned relaunch of UKTV G2 to the [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|digital terrestrial]] platform [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], replacing [[UKTV Bright Ideas]].<ref name="freeviewlaunch">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a70407/uktv-considers-g2-freeview-launch.html |title=Terrestrial&nbsp;– News&nbsp;– UKTV considers G2 Freeview launch&nbsp;– Digital Spy|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=8 August 2007|access-date=4 November 2007}}</ref> On 20 September 2007, UKTV officially announced that the relaunch of UKTV G2 would be called Dave; and that it would occur on 15 October, and would be added to Freeview on the same day. The channel's name was chosen with UKTV saying that "everyone knows a bloke called Dave".<ref>{{cite news|first=Leigh |last=Holmwood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/20/television |title=UKTV to launch channel called 'Dave' &#124; Media &#124; MediaGuardian |publisher=Guardian |date= 20 September 2007|access-date=18 August 2010 | location=London}}</ref> To prepare for the launch, [[UKTV Bright Ideas]] was shut down permanently, with [[U&Yesterday|UKTV History]] taking over its timesharing bandwidth with [[Channel One (British and Irish TV channel)|Virgin1]], while Dave would launch in UKTV History's former Freeview bandwidth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051303|title=It's Dave&nbsp;– not Bright Ideas and evening History&nbsp;– ukfree.tv&nbsp;– independent digital TV and switchover advice|access-date=4 November 2007|archive-date=13 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013165239/http://www.ukfree.tv/fullstory.php?storyid=1107051303|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redbeecreative.com/work/dave-channel-rebrand|title=The Story of Dave (video)|publisher=Red Bee Media |access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> To ensure that all Freeview viewers received Dave on channel number 19, UKTV briefly placed a re-tuning notice on the programme's information. The timeshift service UKTV G2 +1 was effectively renamed Dave +1 and expanded its own broadcast hours to match its parent network.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Dave used the tagline "the home of witty banter", and had [[Ralph Ineson]] as an announcer; along with David Flynn, [[Phill Jupitus]], [[Iain Lee]] and [[BBC Radio 1]] DJ [[Greg James]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

On 31 January 2008, the channel began broadcasting in [[16:9 aspect ratio|widescreen]], along with the other UKTV channels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uktv.co.uk/uktv/stepbystep/aid/598215 |title=UKTV goes widescreen |publisher=UKTV |access-date=24 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127151643/http://uktv.co.uk/uktv/stepbystep/aid/598215 |archive-date=27 January 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:U&DaveJaVu 2024.svg|thumb|right|200px|The current logo of the timeshift channel]]
On 22 January 2009, following UKTV's acquisition of a further [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] broadcast slot, Dave +1 was made available on the digital terrestrial platform. Dave +1 would be renamed Dave ja vu (a play on the phrase ''[[déjà vu]]'') on 24 February, in order to "strengthen the brand's positioning as the home of witty banter"<ref name="dave+1 to dave ja vu">{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/883914/UKTV-launches-Dave-ja-vu/ |title= UKTV launches Dave ja vu&nbsp;– Brand Republic |access-date=6 June 2009}}</ref> according to UKTV bosses. In April 2009, they aired three new instalments of ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', entitled ''[[Red Dwarf: Back to Earth|Back to Earth]]''. This marked the channel's first foray into scripted original programming. During the airing of the ''Red Dwarf'' mini-series, the Dave [[Digital on-screen graphic|DOG]] in the top left corner of the screen had the word 'Lister' added after it in the same font, after the show's lead character; during the special it is even suggested that the station is named after him. ''Back to Earth'' brought record breaking viewing figures, not just in the context of the channel's past, but for digital television in general.<ref name="reddwarf1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2009/06/26/back-to-earth-natterings/|title=Back To Earth Natterings|website=www.reddwarf.co.uk}}</ref> Subsequently, three full series of ''Red Dwarf'' have been produced for Dave which aired in 2012, 2016 and 2017, along with a feature-length special in 2020. In June 2009, the logo was updated to incorporate the 'circle' logo branding of all the new UKTV channels.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} At the same time, the voice of Dave became Nigel Grover, aka Scott Saunders, who had previously worked at a number of local radio stations.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

On 14 June 2011, UKTV announced that [[Really (TV channel)|Really]] would launch on Freeview on 2 August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/645227|title=UKTV secures free to air slot for Really, its cutting edge lifestyle channel|publisher=UKTV|date=14 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618023550/http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/645227|archive-date=18 June 2011}}</ref> To facilitate this, Dave ja vu's broadcast hours on the platform were reduced from 8.00&nbsp;am-4.00&nbsp;am to 2.00&nbsp;am-4.00&nbsp;am in order to keep the space for future use. On 29 July 2011, [[UKTV]] announced that it had secured a deal with [[Sky UK|BSkyB]] to launch three more [[High-definition television|high-definition]] channels on [[Sky UK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/646048 |title=UKTV enters VoD market with landmark HD content deal with Sky |publisher=UKTV |date=29 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107010131/http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/646048 |archive-date=7 November 2011 }}</ref> As part of Virgin Media's deal to sell its share of UKTV, all five of UKTV's HD channels would also be added to Virgin's cable television service by 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/04a841ee-c729-11e0-a9ef-00144feabdc0.html |title=Virgin Media sells £239m stake in UKTV |newspaper=Financial Times |date=15 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103053054/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/04a841ee-c729-11e0-a9ef-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=3 January 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> [[File:U&Dave HD.png|thumb|The Current Logo For The HD Channel]] Dave HD launched on 10 October 2011 on Sky and Virgin Media,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://my.virginmedia.com/customer-news/articles/UKTVNew/ |title=Virgin TV just got even bigger |publisher=Virgin Media |access-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011064522/http://my.virginmedia.com/customer-news/articles/UKTVNew/ |archive-date=11 October 2011 }}</ref> two days before ''[[U&W|Watch HD]]'', while ''[[U&Alibi|Alibi HD]]'' launched in July 2012. All three channels are HD [[simulcast]]s of the [[Standard-definition television|standard-definition]] channel.

In September 2012, the channel swapped its Freeview EPG number with [[U&Yesterday|Yesterday]], moving to channel 12. On 22 November 2012, UKTV confirmed that it had secured a deal for another 24-hour DTT slot and would use it for Dave ja vu until it firmed up permanent plans for the slot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/654974 |title=UKTV secures additional DTT slot |publisher=UKTV |date=22 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201100300/http://uktv.co.uk/network/item/aid/654974 |archive-date=1 February 2013 }}</ref> Dave ja vu began to broadcast its full schedule on the platform again from 3 January 2013. [[U&Drama|Drama]] permanently took the slot from 8 July 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a516digital.com/2013/05/uktv-launches-new-drama-channel-on.html |title=UKTV launches new Drama channel on Freeview |publisher=a516digital |date=2 May 2013 |access-date=2 May 2013 }}</ref> however Dave ja vu continued to broadcast between 2.00&nbsp;am-5.00&nbsp;am.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a516digital.com/2013/07/dave-ja-vu-reverts-back-to-part-time-on.html |title=Dave Ja Vu reverts back to part time on Freeview |publisher=a516digital |date=7 July 2013 |access-date=10 July 2013 }}</ref>

On 29 April 2014, the 'circle' logo was removed and the original 2007 logo was restored. On 20 November, Dave ja vu returned to 24-hour broadcasting on Freeview.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a516digital.com/2014/11/dave-ja-vu-back-to-24-hours-on-freeview.html |title=Dave Ja Vu back to 24 hours on Freeview |publisher=a516digital |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014 }}</ref>

Dave HD along with Good Food HD and Eden HD launched on BT TV on 3 October 2016.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In June 2019, Dave moved back to channel 19 on Freeview, a space previously occupied by [[U&Yesterday|Yesterday]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} This was following owner [[BBC Studios]] breaking up its joint venture with [[Discovery, Inc.]], with Discovery acquiring [[Good Food]], [[HGTV (British and Irish TV channel)|Home]] and [[Really (TV channel)|Really]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In November 2020, following UKTV's purchase of [[CCXTV]], Dave ja vu moved to channel 23, whilst CCXTV moved to Freeview 73.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Mike (ex-a516digital) |user=a516digital |number=1333403901148737536 |date=30 November 2020 |title=CCXTV moves to channel 73 on 7th December; UKTV's Dave Ja Vu gets 23. https://t.co/FMQSkapNOw |language=en |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref>

After the relaunch of [[BBC Three]] (and with BBC Four in Scotland taking the next slot), Dave ja vu moved down to channel 25. This lasted until March 2022, when UKTV revealed that Dave would be going back to the 70s section on the Freeview EPG, as the channel number was used by UKTV for their female-skewing [[U&W|W]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/uktv-w-freetoair-announcement|title = Uktv Take W Free-To-Air with Channel Rebrand|date = 21 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/uktv-takes-w-free-to-air/|title = UKTV expands W's reach by taking the premium entertainment channel free-to-air &#124; News &#124; UKTV Corporate Site}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2022/03/21/uktv-to-make-w-channel-free-to-air/|title=UKTV to make W channel free-to-air|date=21 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/uktvs-w-launches-life-unfiltered-rebrand/|title = UKTV's W launches "Life Unfiltered" rebrand as the premium entertainment channel is taken free-to-air &#124; News &#124; UKTV Corporate Site}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mediatel.co.uk/news/2022/03/21/uktv-relaunches-w-as-free-to-air-channel/|title = UKTV relaunches W as free-to-air channel| date=21 March 2022 }}</ref> From 28 March 2022, Dave Ja Vu took Drama+1's slot on Freeview 74, with that one-hour timeshift of Drama moving up to channel 60.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/freeview-channel-reshuffle-as-w-joins|title=Freeview channel reshuffle as W joins|date=21 March 2022}}</ref>

===2022–present===
[[File:Dave 2022.svg|150px|thumb|Logo used from 2022 to 2024]]
On 9 November 2022, Dave was given a on-air refresh, including a new logo, idents, and a new slogan ("Add a bit of Dave").<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave shows off new look with colour popping brand refresh {{!}} News {{!}} UKTV Corporate Site |url=https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/dave-shows-off-new-look-with-brand-refresh/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |website=corporate.uktv.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> 

On 16 July 2024, the channel was rebranded as ''U&Dave'', as part of the realignment of UKTV's free-to-air networks under the new "U" masterbrand.<ref name=u>{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/uktv-announces-creation-of-u-a-new-brand/|title=UKTV announces creation of ‘U’ - a new brand to unite its free TV and digital portfolio|date=29 November 2023|website=UKTV|language=en|access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>