SoHo (Australian TV channel)

SoHo was an Australian pay television channel. Originally launched as FX in 1995 and oriented towards classic programming, it was rebranded as W. and shifted its focus to women's programming on 1 November 2003.[2] Later, on 20 August 2012, it was again rebranded as SoHo and shifted its focus to drama television series.[3]

For the Canadian television network, see W Network.

SoHo
CountryAustralia
SloganStories start here
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Timeshift serviceSoHo+2
Ownership
OwnerFoxtel Networks
Sister channelsFoxtel Networks channels
History
Launched23 October 1995 (1995-10-23)
Closed4 October 2016 (2016-10-04)
Replaced byBinge
Former namesFX (1995-2003)[1]
W. (2003–2012)
Links
Websitewww.sohotv.com.au
Availability at time of closure
Cable
FoxtelChannel 114 (SD/HD)
Channel 157 (+2)
Channel 1114 (SD)
Satellite
FoxtelChannel 114 (SD/HD)
Channel 157 (+2)
Channel 1114 (SD)

The channel closed down on 4 October 2016, and was replaced by Binge.[4][5]

History
The channel's first W. logo, as seen from 2003 to 2009
The second W. logo, as seen from 2009 to 2012
The channel's first logo (as SoHo), as seen from 2012 to 2015. This was also the original branding used by the New Zealand channel which SoHo is based on.

In 1995, FX, then stylised as fX, was launched in Australia on Foxtel, featuring classic TV series (often branded as "Golden Years of Television").

In late 1998 fX became FX, which at the time was a channel aimed at women, unlike the international FX channels demographic, featuring shows such as The View and Donny and Marie.

The channel became available on Austar in April 1999.[6]

In late 2000, FX was again rebranded, officially becoming "Australia's first TV channel for women".

It was relaunched as W. on 1 November 2003, shortly before digital broadcasting began.[1] W screened original Australian programming such as Beauty and the Beast, Love My Way, From Here to Maternity and Studio A with Simon Burke. It also had Pay-TV rights to many popular US primetime drama series such as Pushing Daisies and The Wire and repeats of many other series.

Antonia Kidman, sister of actress Nicole Kidman, was the face of the W channel, for quite some time and has presented a few parenting and entertainment programs for this and other channels. W2, the timeshift channel broadcasting programs two hours later, was launched in September 2006. A website for the channel was also launched in September 2006.

W. underwent a transformation in April 2009, which included an updated logo (now simply W) and several new additions to the primetime line-up. W HD was launched on 15 November 2009, on both Austar and Foxtel.

In 2012, it was announced that SoHo was to broadcast the new Australian drama Wentworth, a re-imaging of the classic television show Prisoner. The series started airing on 1 May 2013.

The channel closed on 30 September 2016, with existing programs being moved to other channels. Most programs migrated to Showcase, with a handful of other titles moving to TV H!TS, Arena and FOX8.[4]

Programming

Original programming

Acquired programming on SoHo

Acquired programming on W

References
  1. Idato, Michael (27 October 2003). "Talk of the town". Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 3. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  2. Keogh, Kylie (25 November 2000). "Foxtel's feminine summer push". Daily Telegraph. Sydney. p. 14.
  3. David Knox. "SoHo to launch with The Newsroom on Foxtel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  4. Knox, David (1 August 2016). "Foxtel closing SoHo, adds new Binge channel". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  5. Knox, David (15 September 2016). "Binge channel launching October 5". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. Joyce, James (26 March 1999). "Friday Guide: Tunedin". Newcastle Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
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