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American pay television channel From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
We TV is an American pay television channel owned by AMC Networks that is oriented mainly towards lifestyle and entertainment programming targeting women. It was originally launched on September 1, 1997 as Romance Classics, before adopting its current name on January 1, 2001.
Country | United States |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | New York City |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
Ownership | |
Owner | AMC Networks |
Sister channels | AMC BBC America IFC Sundance TV |
History | |
Launched | September 1, 1997 |
Former names | Romance Classics (1997–2000) WE: Women's Entertainment (2000–2006) |
Links | |
Website | www |
Availability | |
Streaming media | |
Philo | Internet Protocol television |
YouTube TV | Internet Protocol television |
Sling TV | Internet Protocol television |
As of November 2023[update], We TV is available to approximately 64,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2017 peak of 87,000,000 households.[1]
Romance Classics launched on September 1, 1997, under the ownership of what was then the Cablevision Systems Corporation-controlled Rainbow Media. It was originally a movie channel focusing mostly on romantic dramas and comedies, and television miniseries. Similar to the original format of AMC, the channel initially broadcast its films commercial-free.[2] On January 1, 2001, the network was relaunched as WE: Women's Entertainment, taking on an ad-supported general entertainment format. By 2006, the network's name was shortened to WE tv.[3]
WE's programming would shift towards reality shows as the decade progressed. In addition to general fare (like Secret Lives of Women), the network became known for airing several shows related to weddings (such as Bridezillas, Big Easy Brides and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera).[4] On August 18, 2009, Rainbow launched a sister network called Wedding Central; the channel would last less than two years before it was closed on July 1, 2011.
In January 2011, We TV confirmed that it had signed Toni Braxton for a reality series, entitled Braxton Family Values, which is marketed as one of the flagship shows. The network was given a new logo and branding ahead of the show's launch, with the tagline "Life As WE Know It".[5]
In March 2012, the network ordered 14 episodes of Kendra on Top; a reality show following the lives of Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett, who previously appeared in the E! reality series Kendra. Kendra said the show focuses on "motherhood, parenthood, and wife hood".[6] Kendra On Top premiered on June 5, 2012.[7]
In June 2014, We TV unveiled a new logo; described as becoming more of a brand in the "royal we" sense. AMC Networks president Marc Juris explained that while We was to remain "a leading destination for women on television and online", the goal of the new branding was to broaden the focus on the word "we" as representing shared experiences, describing it as "a powerful and universal theme which drives connection, conversation, collaboration and community".[8]
During this period, the network attempted a move into scripted series. The Divide, which was originally pitched for AMC, was cancelled after 1 season.[9][10] Its second series, South of Hell premiered in its entirely on November 27, 2015 as a Black Friday programming stunt.
By 2020, We TV's programming had become slanted towards African American audiences.[11]The network would also air shows that were produced for, or moved to, the sibling Allblk streaming service; such as Double Cross and Kold x Windy.[12]
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2024) |
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