28th September 2022 - Award-winning commercial broadcaster UKTV today debuted a full rebrand for its free streaming service UKTV Play.

As UKTV's free Video on Demand (VoD) service, UKTV Play faced the creative challenge of marking out its place in an increasingly competitive streaming landscape, increasing usage and serving as the digital home of UKTV's free-to-air channel brands; Dave, Drama, Yesterday and W. After an intensive market research process consulting current users and new target audiences, UKTV Play will relaunch with a renewed digital-first brand direction and a fresh look and feel.

General Manager for Digital, Andrea Amey, said,

This rebrand marks the beginning of a real step change for UKTV Play. With over six million registered users and thousands of new hours of content being made available on the service this year, I'm delighted that our new brand creative unites our channel brands like never before and perfectly encapsulates UKTV Play's warm tone and playful spirit.

.

Kate Rossiter, UKTV's Head of Marketing for UKTV Play oversaw the brief, and in-house agency UKTV Creative and UKTV's Digital Products Team designed, developed and delivered over 200 assets for the rebrand over six months, all designed to echo the brilliant mix of content that UKTV Play offers viewers.

Kate said,

It's been brilliant to create a consumer-centric positioning for UKTV Play and provide the Creative team with a clear springboard to work from. The redesign is being supported by UKTV Play's biggest marketing campaign to date, with significant on and off-air media plans.

The first step in the design process was to create the new logo that allowed key imagery to interact with the branding and unite all of the distinct UKTV channel brands like never before.

.

UKTV Creative also built a suite of creative elements designed to draw users into the easy-going brand world of UKTV Play. This includes a new characterful contemporary typeface, a vibrant colour palette and a collection of unique iconography, animations and sounds that encapsulate its warm tone and playful spirit.

UKTV's Head of Design, Peter Allinson, said,

Our task as UKTV creative was to refresh the UKTV Play brand by creating a distinctive design language that feels modern, compelling and digital-first. By bringing the brand promise to life and drawing users into the UKTV Play eco-system, we are now able to make viewers feel at home as they enjoy the brilliant mix of TV available on the service.

.

The rebrand comes ahead of the introduction of HD content to UKTV Play, allowing UKTV Play viewers to view their favourite programmes such as Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over, Bangers and Cash, MasterChef Australia and Big Zuu's Big Eats in full HD quality for the first time. From November, new content added to the service will be available in HD (720p and 1080p) delivered via adaptive bitrate streaming. Back catalogue content, for which a HD master exists, will be re-encoded in phases from mid-November onwards.

In October, viewers can get up close and personal with UKTV Play's original content with its free three-day exhibition showcasing UKTV's commissioned photography and exclusive props from UKTV's channels Dave, W, Yesterday and Drama. The UKTV Play Photography Exhibition opens to the public 12pm-6pm, Friday 7th-Sunday 9th October near Seven Dials Market, London.

-END-

For further information please contact:

Rebecca Ferris, Corporate Communications Manager, UKTV

About UKTV Play

UKTV Play is an on-demand TV service providing instant access to shows from UKTV's free-to-air channels - Dave, W, Yesterday and Drama. With the easy-to-use UKTV Play app you can browse and stream hundreds of shows for free via your computer, tablet or smart phone. You can also watch on the telly thanks to Freeview Play, Amazon Fire TV, YouView, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Freesat, NOW and Roku.

If you're a Sky, Virgin Media or BT TV customer, shows from other great UKTV channels - Gold, W, Alibi, and Eden - are also on the menu.

uktvplay.co.uk | Ways to Watch

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.

UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.

UKTV Twitter: twitter.com/UKTV

UKTV Corporate Website: corporate.uktv.co.uk