.tv (TV channel)

This article is about the BSkyB television channel. For the earlier BSB television channel also called The Computer Channel, see The Computer Channel (BSB). For the country code top-level domain for Tuvalu, see .tv.
.tv
CountryUnited Kingdom
Ownership
OwnerBritish Sky Broadcasting
History
Launched1 September 1996
Closed2 September 2001
Replaced byPremPlus
Former namesThe Computer Channel
(1996–1998)

.tv (formerly The Computer Channel, pronounced as Dot TV and referred to on-screen as .tv - the technology channel) was a British television channel dedicated to technology. .tv was owned and operated by British Sky Broadcasting. The channel was first broadcast as The Computer Channel and launched on 1 September 1996, broadcasting between 18:00 and 20:00. It timeshared with Granada Good Life when it launched a month later. The broadcasting hours were increased to 6pm–10pm when the channel started broadcasting on British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite platform, Sky Digital in 1998, then midday–midnight the following year. In 1999, the channel interviewed then-Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.

Towards the end of its run, .tv implemented several new shows heavily sponsored by online technology store dabs.com, promoting products which were available at that site. .tv was closed on 2 September 2001 because of low audience ratings. Most of the programmes were produced by Prospect Pictures and Illumina.