15 February 2016
Sophie Ellis-Bextor today dazzled a crowd of onlookers, releasing hundreds of balloons* into the skyline to mark the launch of new entertainment channel W. What's more, each balloon captured is a chance to win one of five DIAMONDS, in the ultimate treasure hunt.
The launch, fronted by musician Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose authored documentary Sophie ON Fame airs on W later this month, took place at London's Gabriel's Wharf. New premium entertainment channel W has a sharp, geometric logo featuring a diamond, which is the inspiration for the competiton.
Each biodegradable balloon released from a four metre high sculpture of W can travel for hours before reaching a height of five miles and landing anywhere in the UK, meaning the whole country could be in with a chance of finding a balloon. Lucky balloon finders then simply follow instructions on the recycled card to enter the competition, #WDiamondDash.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor said,
I'm delighted to be a part of the launch of new entertainment channel, W. I wish everyone the best of luck with the Diamond Dash competition. My documentary for W explores social media, so I'll be checking in on Twitter from time to time to see how everyone is getting on!
W is UKTV's premium entertainment channel, offering audiences a dazzling mix of original factual entertainment formats - Get Me To The Church, Honey I Bought the House - alongside hit shows from the US including Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, CSI:NY, Grimm and The Strain plus the very best from the BBC including the same day repeat of EastEnders.
People** who find a card should tweet an image of it, follow @LiveonW, and include the hashtag #WDiamondDash, to be with a chance of winning.
The competition is open until midnight on 18 February 2016.
W launches 15 February and launch night shows include Sara Cox ON Friendship at 9pm.
W is available on Sky 109/245, Virgin 124/191, BT and TalkTalk 407.
ENDS
For more information, contact the W team at Fever: wlaunch@feverpr.com/020 3747 3030
Notes to Editors
*Balloons released are biodegradable and adhere to current environmental legislation
**For full T&Cs and details of the competition please head to the UKTV website http://uktv.co.uk/diamond
About W
Sky 109/245, Virgin 124/191, BT & TalkTalk 311 On demand on Sky and Virgin
W is UKTV's premium entertainment channel, offering audiences a dazzling mix of original factual entertainment formats - Get Me To The Church, Honey I Bought the House - alongside hit shows from the US including Code Black, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, CSI:NY, Grimm and The Strain plus the very best from the BBC and Channel 4.
About UKTV
UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches 42 million viewers a month.
UKTV's eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food - include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £283m and EBITDA of £74.1m. It invested £123m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories. Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.