Together TV (formerly The Community Channel) is a British
free-to-air
Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscripti ...
television channel owned by The Community Channel, a
community benefit society. The channel targets a women's audience aged 40 to 60, with programming related to health and wellness, hobbies, and creativity.
The channel was originally launched on 18 September 2000 as The Community Channel with programming focused on promoting volunteerism and charitable organisations. It was initially backed by other British broadcasters who provided resources and other programming to the service. After selling its previous
Freeview slot to
A&E Networks
A&E Networks (stylized as A+E NETWORKS) is an American multinational broadcasting company that is a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its General Entertainment Content division. The company ...
in 2017, the channel re-launched on Freeview in January 2018 under its current name.
History
1999–2000
In 1999, an initiative by
Caroline Diehl, to create Community Channel was supported by
Elisabeth Murdoch of BskyB, deputy home secretary
Paul Boateng
Paul Yaw Boateng, Baron Boateng (born 14 June 1951) is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent South from 1987 to 2005, becoming the UK's first Black Cabinet Minister in May 2002, when he was appoi ...
, and cabinet office minister Lord
Charles Falconer.
Community Channel launched on 18 September 2000 as a national two-hour "ethical shopping channel," which provided charities a platform to showcase their merchandise, raised awareness of the works of national charities, and boosted the number of volunteers across the UK.
2002–03
By 2002, Community Channel had increased its broadcast hours from three hours a day to 12 hours a day (8am8pm).
[Benjamin, Alison (19 June 2002)]
"Raised voices"
''The Guardian''. Retrieved 19 February 2014. It was chosen as one of the initial 30 free-to-view channels on the digital terrestrial platform Freeview. The BBC also agreed to supply relevant programming from the BBC archive to Community Channel.
In conjunction with continued broadcasts of charity focused programming, Community Channel began a co-production with ITV's campaigning series ''That's
Esther
Esther is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther. In the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, is deposed for disobeying him. Hadassah, a Jewess who goes by the name of Esther, is chosen ...
'' to promote volunteering.
2002 also saw Jane Mote, Editor BBC London – TV, Radio and Online – join Community Channel as channel controller.
In 2003 the channel produced ''First Up'', a "cruelty-free" talent show. Milton Keynes ska-punk-funk-metal band Six.Point.Five were awarded first prize by viewers and an expert panel. The prize (in association with Channel 4) was five days' recording in
Abbey Road
''Abbey Road'' is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It is the last album the group started recording, although '' Let It Be'' was the last album completed before the band's break-up in April 1970. It was mostly ...
with a producer of their choice (Dave Chang).
2004–05
2004 saw the launch of flagship drama series ''Kismet Road''. Commissioned by the
Department of Health
A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...
, ''Kismet Road'' used drama to promote good health. Using a number of Asian actors, writers, trainees and integrating Urdu and Punjabi in the dialogue, ''Kismet Road'' was a breakthrough series in showcasing a multicultural Britain.
Community Channel also launched an interactive TV donation service in 2004. This provided a round-the-clock on-air presence for selected charities to encourage donations from viewers. Designed by Sky Interactive, the red button also enabled existing programmes, films or adverts of participating charities to further promote their fundraising campaigns, at no extra cost to the charities.
In 2004, Community Channel moved from an overnight slot on Freeview to a daytime slot.
2005 saw Nick Ware, former Creative Director for BBC Learning, take on the role of channel controller and Community Channel became available on NTL for 24 hours a day.
The documentary Abnormally Funny People broadcast in partnership with Sky and won several awards. It featured a group of gifted stand-up comedians: Tanyalee Davis, Steve Best, Liz Carr, Steve Day, Chris McCausland and Simon Minty. All but one of them is disabled and all are very funny. Abnormally Funny People celebrates its 10th Anniversary at Edinburgh in summer 2015.
In support of The Year of The Volunteer campaign, Community Channel broadcast a range of programmes which highlighted the work of people who donated their time to good causes. Programmes included ''Beach Lovers'' and ''Charity Chic'' – a magazine show chronicling the lives of those involved in charity shop work.
Programming in July 2005 included ''Restoration'' and ''Soaplife'', which featured
Fiona Phillips
Fiona Phillips (born 1 January 1961) is an English journalist, broadcaster and television presenter. She is best known for her presenting roles with the ITV Breakfast programme '' GMTV Today''.
Early life
Phillips was born in Canterbury Hospi ...
as presenter.
In September, Community Channel and the Royal Horticulture Society produced "Britain in Bloom", a partnership that ran for three years of the RHS Awards, focusing on the Neighbourhood Award scheme, also working with the BBC.
Parterning with Channel Five, Mad 4 Arts was shown in October. Also in October, pairing with BBC, Community Channel aired the National Lottery Awards.
2006
On Thursday 6 July 2006, the Broadcasters Joint Declaration was renewed with new signatories and at an event was held at Channel 4. The signatories were BBC, ITV, Channel Four, Five, Sky, Turner, Flextech Television, Disney, MTV, Discovery, GMTV, ITN and PACT.
Community Channel became available for two more hours on Freeview.
Community Channel was also at the forefront of the interactive TV campaign to raise money for the
Indian Tsunami.
Launched to coincide with National Giving Week, Community Channel launched an online social networking area called YourCharitySpace for visitors to blog about charity issues. The site also offers visitors the chance to donate by linking to a specially designed page on the
Charities Aid Foundation's website.
2006 saw the launch of Give More, Get More, Volunteer – a campaign to make volunteering more accessible for marginalised groups including people with no formal qualifications, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.
In January, The Skoll Foundation’s series ''The New Heroes'' aired, telling the dramatic stories of 14 daring people from all over the world who are helping bring social reform to poor and marginalized people around the globe.
In August, partnering with BBC Two, Community Channel broadcast ''
Restoration Village'', followed by ''North By North East'' in September.
In October, the channel broadcast the
Screen Nation Film and Television Awards
The Screen Nation Film & TV Awards, formerly the bfm (black filmmaker) Film and TV Awards, was founded in September 2003 by independent film producer Charles Thompson MBE, as a platform to raise the profile of black British and international fil ...
, recognising talented black and ethnic minority actors. Teaming up with Channel Five, ''Mad For Poetry'' was also broadcast in October, along with ''Saving a Stranger'' by
Anthony Nolan.
In November, ''Ballet Saved My Life'' was broadcast as a partnership with Channel 4.
In December, teaming up with Channel 4, the Community Channel aired the Beacon Awards/Secret Millionaire and Oxfam.
2007–08
Community Channel launched an interactive initiative for young film-makers called
Charge TV and described as "YouTube with a conscience". Charge TV ran for five series broadcasting on Community Channel and on the website.
Daren Forsyth of
BBC Future Media, became the channel’s Director of Innovation & New Media. Forsyth led a programme of digital media initiatives across Media Trust's media training, news distribution, film and TV productions and Community Channel, the TV and online service for charities.
In 2007, Community Channel joined forces with
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was form ...
to deliver the live broadcast from Brownsea Island of the Sunrise Ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the movement.
In February, the channel aired James McAvoy: On the Tiger’s Trail, which featured the Scottish actor and explains the work of RETRAK's flagship project in Uganda.
In June 2007, the Giving Nation Challenge documentary aired which was filmed in schools across the UK showcasing young entrepreneurs participating in the Giving Nation Challenge, including their progress, and pitches to experts.
July 2007 saw ‘’Cutie HQ’’, produced by Hamma & Glamma that had replaced the axed ‘’CharliiTV’’ strand that ran from February 2006-June 2007, which was produced by
RDF Television
Banijay (formerly Banijay Entertainment and later Banijay Group) is a French television production and distribution company which is the world's largest international content producer and distributor with over 120 production companies across 22 ...
(the rights are now owned by
Shout Factory
Shout! Factory is an American home video and music company founded in 2002 as Retropolis Entertainment. Its video releases include previously released feature films, classic and contemporary television series, animation, live music, and comedy ...
in the US). It was narrated by Hannah Sandling with the tutions provided by Lily Vincent, Toni Micklebrough, Samanie Warren, Danielle Chapman, Desiree Skylark, Luciana Caporaso & Jessica Reid. ‘’Cutie HQ’’ ended in December 2008.
Community Channel also broadcast ''Summit About A Boy'', following 22-year-old Lee McConville's extraordinary journey from the violent gang-ridden streets of Lozells in Birmingham to the exclusive briefings at the G8 summit in Germany, under the wing of veteran ''
Times
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events, and a fundamental quantity of measuring systems.
Time or times may also refer to:
Temporal measurement
* Time in physics, defined by its measurement
* Time standard, civil time speci ...
'' political editor Philip Webster.
In 2008, Community Channel’s Awareness Campaign featured focused programming for a variety of campaigns including Disability Week,
World Mental Health Day,
Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently ...
, Aids and Human Rights Day.
2009–10
Community Channel launched its new BSL Zone (British Sign Language Zone) on 21 January 2009. This initiative offers an extended service in signing supported programmes.
Following on from their 2007 success, Community Channel joined forces with
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the largest Scouting organisation in the United Kingdom and is the World Organization of the Scout Movement's recognised member for the United Kingdom. Following the origin of Scouting in 1907, the association was form ...
once again to showcase their six-part series Scout TV.
Spotting Cancer Early, a four-part series produced with Cancer Research UK, broadcast with Dr. Sarah Jarvis and Dr. Chris Steele presenting.
In 2010, Community Channel partnered with BT Vision and was available on Freeview for 24 hours a day from the month of May to June, leading to a notable spike in viewing figures.
In September 2010, Community Channel celebrated a decade of broadcasting. For the anniversary month in September, programmes including ''Inspiring Stories'', ''
How the Other Half Live'', ''Living With Size Zero'' and other Sky health series were broadcast. Other seasons in 2010 included Alzheimers Awareness, Black History Month, Disability Week in December and programming for World AIDS Day.
Community Channel also launched Community Champions in partnership with Heavenly. This campaign aimed to recognise the individual champions in communities across the UK. The public were encouraged to nominate and vote for their own community champions. In addition, a dedicated telephone line enabled entry forms to be requested. The top 20 people with the highest number of registered votes were shortlisted and an independent judging panel then decided on the winning five. The five winners were recognised through a documentary that highlighted the impact that they make in their community.
Community Channel also partnered with Looking Local for interactive services on Sky.
October 2010 saw the celebration of Black History Month on Community Channel. Programmes included ''Black History and Me'', ''Girl Guiding Anniversary'', ''Future Shorts'', ''Penny Revolution'' and ''Evicted''.
In November 2010, Community Channel took a deeper look at deprivation during Poverty Month, with programmes including ''The Street: Film with the Homeless'' and ''SPIT: Squeegee Punks In Traffic''. The Nick Broomfield Season, the ''Strictly Politics'' documentary, and
Unicef
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to ...
and
Children in Need weeks were also popular with audiences during this month too.
2011
Community Channel opened 2011 with a campaign to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living. ''Your Sport'' returned for a fourth series following its broadcast as shorts on Channel 5 from October 2010. An environmental season in March included ''Nature Inc'', ''Planet India'', ''Explore'' and ''The Environmental Atlas of Europe''.
International Women’s Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against wom ...
was highlighted through the series ''Make Women Matter'' and other programming.
Other notable spring and summer premieres included the Oscar-winning ''Blood of Yinzhou District'', ''MediaBox'', ''Talent Studio'', ''Untold Stories'', ''The Team'' (produced by Search For Common Ground), ''ViewChange'', ''Charity Champions'' (from BBC Children in Need) and ''That Paralympic Show'' (from Channel Four).
''London360'' launched in June 2011, a series celebrating the capital’s communities through features produced by young reporters trained in journalism, production and digital skills. The "Riot Special" following the
2011 England riots
The 2011 England riots, more widely known as the London riots, were a series of riots between 6 and 11 August 2011. Thousands of people rioted in cities and towns across England, which saw looting, arson, as well as mass deployment of police ...
received critical praise for its unique look into the London riots. ''London360'' has broadcast five series and featured hundreds of communities to date with media partners including
BBC Radio London, ''
The Voice
The Voice may refer to:
Fictional entities
* The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics
* The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe
* The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
'', MTV, Sky, ''
Time Out'', ''
Huffington Post'' and
Westside Radio. Many of ''London360''’s alumni have gone on to work for major broadcasters including BBC, ITV, MTV and
London Live.
In August and September, the channel ran a season of pioneering British films under the This Britain banner. These films were funded by the
BFI Production Board and charted changing Britain from the 1970s to the millennium. The season ran for 10 weeks, launching with
Horace Ové
Sir Horace Shango Ové (born 1936) is a Trinidad and Tobago-born British filmmaker, photographer, painter and writer. One of the leading black independent filmmakers to emerge in Britain in the post-war period, Ové holds the ''Guinness World R ...
’s ''
Pressure
Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and e ...
'' (1975), and included
Karl Francis’s ''Above Them The Earth'' (1977), Peter K. Smith’s ''
A Private Enterprise
''A Private Enterprise'' is a 1974 British film directed by Peter K Smith. It stars Salmaan Peerzada as Shiv Verma, an Indian immigrant in Birmingham who attempts to start his own business. It is regarded as the first British Asian
British ...
'' (1974), Ron Peck’s ''Nighthawks'' (1978),
Sally Potter’s ''The Gold Diggers'' (1983),
Menelik Shabazz
Menelik Shabazz (30 May 1954 – 28 June 2021) was a Barbados-born British film director, producer, educator, and writer, acknowledged as a pioneer in the development of independent Black British cinema, having been at the forefront of contempor ...
’s
''Burning an Illusion'' (1981)
Patrick Keiller's ''Robinson in Space'' (1997),
Margaret Tait’s ''Blue Black Permanent'' (1992), and
John Akomfrah’s ''Speak Like A Child'' (1998).
In September, the channel launched a simulcast programming block on
Channel M, a local TV channel in Manchester, broadcasting four hours a day. This continued until Channel M’s closure in April 2012. The channel also launched feature documentary strand ''Beyond Borders'', which has broadcast more than 50 films to date.
In October, the channel ran a season marking Black History Month and in November it ran a season of programmes on addiction, including HBO’s
''High On Crack Street'', its premiere coinciding with Sky’s premiere of ''
The Fighter
''The Fighter'' is a 2010 American biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, and stars Mark Wahlberg (who also produced), Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. The film centers on the lives of professional boxer Mi ...
'', which features the documentary.
In November, the channel launched ''UK360'', a celebrity-presented series that featured stories from communities and local reporters across the UK. It ran for 50 episodes until August 2013 and presenters included
Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah (born 15 April 1958)Gregory, Andy (2002), ''International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002'', Europa, p. 562. . is a British writer and dub poet. He was included in ''The Times'' list of Britain's top 50 post-wa ...
,
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan (; 3 August 1938 – 31 January 2016) was an Irish radio and television broadcaster who worked for the BBC in the UK for most of his career. Between 1993 and his semi-retirement in December 2009, his BBC Radio 2 week ...
,
Rachel Riley
Rachel Annabelle Riley (born 11 January 1986) is a British television presenter. She co-presents the Channel 4 daytime puzzle show ''Countdown'' and its comedy spin-off ''8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown''. She is a mathematics graduate.
Her te ...
,
Matt Allwright
Matthew Allwright (born 14 April 1970) is an English television presenter, journalist, and musician. He has presented shows such as ''Watchdog'', ''Rogue Traders'', ''Food Inspectors, The Code'', ''Fake Britain'' and ''The One Show'' for BBC On ...
,
Charlie Dimmock
Charlotte Elouise Dimmock (born 10 August 1966) is an English gardening expert and television presenter. She was a member of the team on ''Ground Force'', a BBC gardening makeover programme, airing from 1997 to 2005.
Since then, Dimmock has pr ...
,
Adam Deacon
Adam Steven Deacon (born 4 March 1983) is an English actor, rapper, writer and director. He is known for his lead role in the films ''Kidulthood'', sequel ''Adulthood'' and for his directorial debut, '' Anuvahood''.
Career
Deacon was brought up ...
and many more. The channel also ran a short event supporting the Film Africa film festival and lifelong learning content.
In December, the channel broadcast eight Worldview-supported international documentaries as new films commissioned by Worldview, Community Channel and YourWorldview shorts. Other new programmes included ''An Inconvenient Truth 2'' and ''Dream Islands''.
2012
In March, Community Channel and ''
The Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
'' launched "The Change Makers", a competition calling on the public to nominate inspirational people that had made positive impact on the community. Six features appeared in newspaper including interviews with celebrity supporters
James Middleton and
Karren Brady
Karren Rita Brady, Baroness Brady, (born 4 April 1969) is a British business executive and television personality. She is a former managing director of Birmingham City F.C. and current vice-chairman of West Ham United F.C., and an aide to Al ...
. Over 20 social enterprises were showcased in the campaign and the winning group Street Soccer in Scotland received exposure for their work across ''The Sunday Times'' and Community Channel, a £500 prize and a raft of professional media support from ''The Sunday Times'' to help further promote their work.
Community Channel was broadcast partner for The Space, a new digital arts service from
Arts Council England
Arts Council England is an arm's length non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is also a registered charity. It was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three s ...
and the BBC. From July to 16 October, specially-produced programmes were aired and featured content from companies and artists, from films on
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly fr ...
,
Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin, Order of the British Empire, CBE, Associate of the Royal Academy, RA (; born 3 July 1963) is a British artist known for her autobiographical and confessional artwork. Emin produces work in a variety of media including drawi ...
and
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is a British film director and producer. Directing, among others, science fiction films, his work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades thr ...
alongside full performances of ''The Two Worlds of Charlie F'' (performed by Afghan war veterans) and two ''Globe To Globe Shakespeare’s'' (performed by companies from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh). A specially-commissioned Community Channel series ''Arts360'' brought mainstream and community arts to life from a younger perspective.
''Sleep Out Live'' was Community Channel’s first live broadcast event. Partnering with
Centrepoint and six other youth homeless charities, it contained interviews, performances, guest appearances, link-ups across the UK and films about youth homelessness. The promo featuring presenter
Richard Madeley
Richard Holt Madeley ( born 13 May 1956) is an English television presenter and writer. Alongside his wife Judy Finnigan, he presented '' This Morning'' and the chat show '' Richard & Judy''. Madeley's solo projects include the ITV series '' F ...
was broadcast to shopping centres across the UK with footfall of 60m people and was secured Sky cross-promotion on
Sky News
Sky News is a British free-to-air television news channel and organisation. Sky News is distributed via an English-language radio news service, and through online channels. It is owned by Sky Group, a division of Comcast. John Ryley is the hea ...
and
PickTV, who broadcast it 46 times. The event raised £350,000, up £100,000 on the previous year’s total.
During the
London Olympics, Community Channel documented the lives and passions of disparate groups and communities that can be viewed as being outside the social norm in the Outsiders season. Programming included ''A Very British Games'', ''Gypsy Gentleman'', ''For the Love of Odd'', ''Thank You Skinhead Girl'' and ''UK360: Momentum''.
In November, Community Channel launched as a third-party linking partner on BBC iPlayer. This enables BBC iPlayer’s 8,000,000 weekly users to find information and over 1000 on-demand programmes from Community Channel on the UK’s leading broadcaster VOD service.
2013
In February, the channel’s Freeview hours were extended by three hours from 5am8am to 2am8am.
In April, Community Channel showcased an Against All Odds season to celebrate those who have overcome mental or physical setbacks. This coincided with National Autism Month and Cystic Fibrosis Week (29th – 5th).
May and June saw Community Channel introduce the popular Gypsy Roma Traveller season in which Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) cultures and histories throughout the UK were celebrated with online features and links to groups. Steering Group of 20 GRT activists, academics and artists identified issues to profile, e.g. housing, health, education, women, art and prejudice.
The channel secured over 20 new films and documentaries for the season, working with NGOs, broadcasters, distributors and filmmakers around the world. A UK360 special featuring GRT360 news bulletins, talking head promos and agony aunt spots added context to the season.
Community Channel received extensive online support with a dedicated microsite for highlights, news, topics and ways to take action. Newsletters were sent to over 20k subscribers to increase awareness.
The season gained coverage in several newspapers, magazines and websites including ''
The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'', ''
Huffington Post'' and ''
New Statesman
The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...
''.
In September, a new series of ''Brilliant Britain'' began piloting. ''Brilliant Britain'' is an entertainment magazine show that is produced by Community Channel and celebrates brilliant community stories from across the UK, featuring regular segments and local stories.
Community Channel became available on Freesat channel 651 in 2013, and on TVCatchup.
2014
In 2014, Community Channel moved its Freeview EPG slot from news (channel 87) to general entertainment (channel 63).
Community Channel and Media Trust gained funding from the Big Lottery Fund to launch the flagship campaign "Do Something Brilliant". This campaign sets out to celebrate all that is brilliant about the incredible, diverse and talented people who make England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland a better place for us all.
Do Something Brilliant launched on 25 February 2014. In conjunction with this, ''Brilliant Britain'' and ''My Brilliant Moment'' will showcase communities and charities around the UK.
Community Channel launched on Freeview HD on 18 March and was to be found on channel 109.
''The Easy Riders'' launched on 19 March 2014. ''The Easy Riders'' is a new 10-part series starring ''Red Dwarf'' star Danny John-Jules and Steve Keys. Sharing a passion for motorcycles and adventure, we follow our intrepid explorers as they embark on an epic 1,250 mile journey from the UK to Valencia in aid of Riders for Health; a charity working to ensure health workers in Africa can access reliable transportation to reach isolated people with regular healthcare.
On 29 April 2014, Community Channel had its broadcast hours extended on
Freeview SD from 3am8am to 3am12am.
April also saw the channel introduce its ''Secrets of Sex'' strand. Covering issues surrounding gay rights, sex and disability, body image, AIDS and the fight against
female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. The practice is found ...
, this strand aims to lift the lid on aspects of sex and sexuality rarely covered in the media. Shows including ''Naked on the Inside'', ''Protection'', ''The Last Taboo'' and the
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...
-narrated ''Cutting Tradition'' have featured in this strand. ''Secrets of Sex'' has grown to become a channel staple and has seen audience figures in the hundreds of thousands.
Community Channel’s young reporter series
London360 ran for 13 episodes on new local TV channel
London Live.
In August, Community Channel’s Do Something Brilliant campaign teamed up with ''
The Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
'' to launch The Change Makers, a search for the UK’s social innovator of the year. Run in association with SparkNews Impact Journalism Day, this competition aimed to inspire people across the country to do something brilliant and to spark social change. Out of more than one hundred nominations, Joe Dickinson won the competition making him the social innovator of the year. Joe’s Call and Check service ensures that postmen and women check in on vulnerable people in Jersey.
On 16 September 2014, Community Channel’s
Freeview hours extended once again to 17 hours on air including 3am3pm and 7pmmidnight. As well as achieving a month’s viewing figures over 2 million, September also saw the highest rated week in channel history with more than a million viewers.
2015
On 22 February 2015, Community Channel premiered its first ever drama series ''
PREMature
Premature may refer to:
* ''Premature'' (2014 film), an American comedy film
* ''Premature'' (2019 film), an American romantic drama film
* ''PREMature'', a 2015 British television drama miniseries
See also
* Premature aging, of an organism
* P ...
''. The series was acquired in 2014 and was originally funded through
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...
along with co-production funding from Community Channel. Cast and crew screenings of all six episodes were held in Brentford on the eve of its television premiere. ''Easy Riders'' returned for a third series with The Five Peaks challenge. Planet Norfolk returned for series 2, with the filmmaker Nik Coleman holding a premiere screening in Great Yarmouth and a promotion being shown at Norwich FC's grounds. London360 returned for series 7, with its reporters interviewing party leaders ahead of the election for Sky's Stand Up and Be Counted.
In March 2015, The Community Channel moved to a Freeview HD multiplex on channel 109 in order to facilitate the launch of
Horror Channel
Legend (formerly Horror Channel, and Zone Horror) is a British free-to-air television channel specialising in sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, action and cult series. It is broadcast in the UK and Ireland. The channel is known for its horror movies dur ...
.
In April the channel launched Make #Something Brilliant competition with Wendy Turner Webster and Julie Peasgood, with support from
Hobbycraft
Hobbycraft is an arts and crafts superstore retail chain in the United Kingdom. It is currently owned by investment group Bridgepoint.
History
It was started by the Haskins Group, a nursery and garden supplier in the south of England, an ...
and ''Craft Beautiful'' magazine. This was alongside a craft and passions season on the channel which included series Crafty Beggars and She's Crafty.
Do Something Brilliant Week launched in late May, with a new TV ad broadcasting across Sky, MTV, Turner and BT Sport alongside Community Channel. The Share #Something Brilliant competition was supported by METRO and other media and charity partners supported the campaign through online and social media. New programming for Do Something Brilliant Week included the five-part series ''This Is Brilliant'' and hour-long ''Do Something Brilliant'', alongside regular series ''My Brilliant Moment'' and ''Brilliant Northern Ireland''. Other series included ''
Supersize vs. Superskinny'', ''
The Undateables
''The Undateables'' was a British reality television series that follows a range of people on dates who have long term conditions, including: disabilities, developmental disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, and learning difficulties. The ...
'' and ''The Day Before Tomorrow'' from The Drum.
2016
In January, the channel was the first broadcaster to show the series ''Walks Around Britain'', which was commissioned from the Yorkshire-based ''Nova Productions''. Community Channel premiered both season one and two, and screened season three after it was first broadcast on the Made TV network of local channels.
In 2016, the channel launched a crowdfunding campaign to help raise £300,000 to keep the channel broadcasting. The channel offered ownership shares for £50 or more. The campaign raised £367,200 in 47 days - over £67,000 more than their original target.
In September 2016 the Community Channel became a Community Benefit Society (FCA: RS007400), and issued shares to its 200+ new owners, and then ran director elections to elect three members to its board. The new CBS board met for the first time in November, and included the elected directors alongside media industry and charity directors. The Community Channel's charitable status was recognised by HMRC in November 2016.
Rebranding and relaunch
In mid-2017, the channel's broadcast licence was transferred to TCC Broadcasting Limited (a for-profit entity based at the same address as The Community Channel and registered May 2017) which reduced its broadcasting hours to 14 hours per day. In August, the channel ceased broadcasting on Freeview, and TCC Broadcasting Limited was sold to
A&E Networks UK, with the transaction used to allow a relocation of A&E's
Blaze to channel 63. In January 2018, it was announced that Community Channel would relaunch as Together on 16 January 2018 on Freeview channel 93,
with Together TV+1 taking this channel number in July 2019 when the main channel moved to Freeview 89 after a slight re-brand and change in multiplex, making it available in most UK homes. As part of a Freeview channel reshuffle on 20 November 2019, Together TV moved from Freeview 89 to Freeview 88, and Together TV+1 took Freeview 89, later moving to channel 82. Together TV+1 ended transmissions via Freeview on 15 February 2021.
2022
In March 2022 the channel launched the second year of its Diverse Film Fund, following the launch of the fund in 2021, which supported five short documentaries under the "Black British and Breaking Boundaries" banner - of these "Our Land" won a BAFTA for Best Short Form Programme in May 2022.
The channel's successful Sunflower Challenge behaviour change campaign returned for a second year, with over fifty thousand people and 100+ community groups receiving sunflower seed kits and support over a 12-week growing journey to improve mental health and community participation. Over 130,000 people and 500 community groups had taken part in similar Challenges since spring 2021.
On 29 June 2022, the channel changed to being broadcast on Freeview as a
HbbTV
Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) is both an industry standard ( European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) TS 102 796) and promotional initiative for hybrid digital TV to harmonise the broadcast, Internet Protocol Television ( ...
service as the multiplex it was on (COM7) was closed down. For viewers whose television sets support the technology, by having Freeview Play for example, it means they can watch the channel 24 hours a day. For viewers whose television sets do not support any HbbTV services, then the channel will continue to be broadcast for four hours on Freeview as a standard channel, between the hours of 3am and 7am.
On 26 October 2022, this 24 hour
HbbTV
Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) is both an industry standard ( European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) TS 102 796) and promotional initiative for hybrid digital TV to harmonise the broadcast, Internet Protocol Television ( ...
channel became Together+1 on Freeview channel 92 (COM5)
as The Community Channel society managed to get a COM4 slot for a temporary period for their Together TV service, starting 26 October 2022 on channel 83 and running from 5am to 3am each day.
Current programming
*''
Ade in Britain'' (formally on ITV)
*''An Outage''
*''Battersea Junction - Stories from the Winstanley and York Road Estates'' (a documentary put together by Wandsworth Heritage Service and Year 6 children from Falconbrook Primary School).
*''Brewing Stories''
*''
Garden Rescue'' (formally on BBC One)
*''The Last Miners''
* ''Yorkshire's Worst Mining Disaster'' (the story of the
Oaks Colliery Disaster of 1866)
[https://www.togethertv.com/yorkshires-worst-mining-disaster]
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Together (Tv channel)
Television channels in the United Kingdom
Television channels and stations established in 2000
2000 establishments in the United Kingdom