Playboy TV
This article needs to be updated.(July 2020) |
Country | United States |
---|---|
Broadcast area | United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Israel |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English Spanish |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) (Americas) 576i (SDTV) (Europe) 1080i (HDTV) (United States, Latin America and Russia) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Rainbow Programming Services (1980-1983, distribution until 1986) Playboy Inc. (1982-present) |
History | |
Launched | January 21, 1982 November 18, 1982 (TV channel) | (programming block)
Former names | Escapade (1980-1982) The Playboy Channel (1982 – 1989) |
Links | |
Website | Playboy TV |
Availability | |
Cable | |
Videotron (Canada) | Channel 221 (SD) |
Rogers Cable (Canada) | Channel 760 (SD) |
Com Hem (Sweden) | Channel 54 |
UPC Romania | Channel 974 |
Izzi Telecom | Channel 691 |
Altice USA | Channel 530 Channel 532 (Spanish) |
Available on most U.S. cable systems | Channel slots vary on each provider |
Satellite | |
Sky (Mexico) | Channel 926 |
Movistar+ (Spain) | Channel 111 |
DigitAlb (Albania) | Channel 153 |
Dish Network (U.S.) | Channel 488/9 (English) Channel 487 (Spanish) |
DirecTV (U.S.) | Channel 580 and 589 (English; HD) Channel 583 (Spanish) |
Shaw Direct (Canada) | Channel 680 |
Bell Satellite TV (Canada) | Channel 780 |
IPTV | |
Telus TV (Canada) | Channel 910 |
AT&T U-Verse (U.S.) | Channel 3952 (English) Channel 3954 (Spanish) |
Telekom Entertain (Germany) | Channel 279 (SD) |
Free (France) | Channel 374 |
SomTV (Andorra) | Channel 270 |
Playboy TV (originally The Playboy Channel) is a pay television channel based in the United States.
History[]
The channel first launched on December 9, 1980, as Escapade by Rainbow Programing Services (a joint-venture of four cable companies, led by Cablevision). At launch, Escapade aired mostly R rated B movies. The channel aired five nights a week from 9 PM to 4 or 6 AM, Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday and Monday nights were reserved for Rainbow's other new channel Bravo. The satellite time the two networks used was subleased from National Christian Network.[1] By July 1981, the service expanded to seven nights a week.[2]
In August 1981, Playboy Enterprises became half-owner of Escapade and announced a plan to produce original programming that reflected the contents of Playboy magazine beginning in early 1982.[3] On January 21, 1982, the Playboy Channel on Escapade debuted as a four-hour programming block. The first program was an interview with John and Bo Derek, followed by footage of January playmate Shannon Tweed, the West German adult movie Vanessa, and a magazine features including "Ribald Classics".[4][5][6][7] Over the months that followed, Escapade would gradually increased the amount of Playboy programming.
The channel officially relaunched as the Playboy Channel on November 18, 1982.[8] The original programming and style of the Playboy Channel was developed by Hugh Hefner, and producer Michael Trikilis. Playboy hired its own sales and marketing staff and launched the channel on several major multiple system operators. At the time of its launch, programming featured on the channel consisted of R-rated films. It was broadcast for only ten hours each day, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, during its first eleven years of existence. In October 1983, Rainbow Media exited the partnership by selling its share to Playboy, but would continue to distribute the channel until 1986.[9] The channel re-launched as Playboy TV and adopted its current name on November 1, 1989. The network expanded its programming with the adoption of a 24-hour schedule in 1994.
In 2008, the channel launched its HD simulcast feed under the name "Playboy TV HD".
Programming[]
Playboy TV was originally developed as a video version of Playboy Magazine. Programming featured music reviews, celebrity interviews, men's fashion and segments on cars. It was a video extension of the magazine - an established lifestyle brand. Slowly the programming on the channel evolved to feature more attractive women and eventually soft core features. This then evolved to what would become more standard television programming with a focus primarily on a male demographic.
In 2010, Playboy TV unveiled a new program slate,[10] which featured series tailored to both male and female viewers.[11]
Programs on Playboy TV have included[]
- 69 Sexy Things 2 Do B4 U Die
- Around the World in 80 Babes
- Brooklyn Kinda Love
- Canoga Park
- Dark Justice
- E-Rotic
- Electric Blue
- Hot Babes Doing Stuff Naked
- Jazmin's Touch
- Jenna's American Sex Star
- King of Clubs
- Money Talks
- Naked Happy Girls
- Naughty Amateur Home Videos
- Night Calls
- Playboy Shootout
- Playmates!
- Sam's Game
- School Of Sex
- Search for the Perfect Girlfriend
- Sex Court
- Sex Lives
- Sexcetera
- Show Us Your Wits
- Totally Busted
- World of Playboy
- Canoga Park
References[]
- ^ "MSO's look for a pot of gold in new Rainbow" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine: 66–68. December 15, 1980. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "NCTA '81: Hottest Ticket in Mediaville" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine: 46. June 8, 1981. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Cable TV 'skin' competition gets hot" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine. August 24, 1981. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "In Brief" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine. January 25, 1982. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Earth doesn't move after Playboy advent on cable channels" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine: 56–57. February 22, 1982. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ Garland, Susan (January 21, 1982). "CABLE TV; Concern grows that 'adult' programming may be reaching more American homes -- and children". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ John, Kenneth E. (September 1, 1982). "Sex-Oriented Channel". Washington Post. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ "Cable programing with a capital P" (PDF). Broadcasting Magazine: 76. November 8, 1982. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "CS Docket No. 94-48In the Matter of Implementation of Section 19 of the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (November 16, 2010). "Playboy TV Puts Emphasis on Intimacy". New York Times.
- ^ Schillaci, Sophie (April 11, 2011). "Adrianne Curry on Celebrity Sex Tales". Screener. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017.
External links[]
- American pornographic television channels
- American pornographic film studios
- Television networks in the United States
- Commercial-free television networks
- Playboy
- Television channels and stations established in 1982
- Men's interest channels
- Nudity in television