UKTV History becomes Yesterday

The broadcaster, which achieved huge success when it rebranded UKTV G2 to Dave last year - and recently rebranded UKTV People as Blighty and UKTV Documentary as Eden - will relaunch the channel early
next year.

The rebrand followed rival station The History Channel's rebranding as History as part of a new programming strategy that focuses on more contemporary events.

UKTV controller Matthew Littleford, who has led the strategy, told Broadcast that the name Yesterday gave the channel “more warmth and personality”.

“‘History' gives the impression something is 50, 80 or 150 years old,” he said. “Music from 2000 is history, as is the Iraq War.”

The channel will air series such as Seven Ages of Rock and The Alan Clark Diaries as well as new acquisitions, including International Terrorism.

“We are most definitely looking for new commissions,” he said. “But because it is low down the EPG, the shows need to be specific for the brand - the same goes for Blighty and Eden.”

The first commission under the Yesterday name is documentary feature In the Land of the Free.

Made byThe Mob Film Co - which made the Bafta award-winning Hogfather for Sky 1 - it lifts the lid on three men's brutal imprisonment for 36 years in notorious US prison Angola Louisiana. It will also be released theatrically by production partner Gold Circle Films.

It was commissioned by UKTV director of commissioning, factual and lifestyle Jane Rogerson.

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