Channel East
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Middlesex[1] |
| History | |
| Launched | 26 January 2000 |
| Closed | 23 July 2001 |
Channel East was a British television channel available on the Sky Digital service targeting the British South Asian population. The channel existed for roughly a year and a half before shutting down due to financial difficulties, ultimately losing its satellite slot. 80% of its programmes were in English.[2]
History
[edit]Channel East started broadcasting on 26 January 2000, targeting the 18-40 demographic.[3] In the three months leading to its launch, it only aired a promotional tape.[4] The channel targeted second- and third-generation Asians and promoted British Asian culture beyond bhangra and Bollywood, by offering a line-up for the homogenous community that did not include content such as cricket matches and feature films. Advertising sales were handled by Carlton Communications and programming was done in-house at HDS Studios in London. Viewer data, however, was unavailable.[5]
Initially, the channel was available free to all Sky Digital subscribers, but aimed to start encrypted broadcasts in June 2000.[2] In February 2001, the station was nominated for the 2001 Race in the Media awards alongside Channel 4 and the BBC Asian Network,[6] subsequently winning the category on 26 April.[7]
In February 2001, 100 of its 126 staff were fired. Most staff were working under "sweatshop" conditions, while BECTU blacklisted the channel following problems facing its staff.[8] Following these problems, Channel East shut down.
Programming
[edit]Most of Channel East's programmes were in-house productions. One of its talk shows, Cook and Chaat, was likened by The Guardian to the early years of TV-am; Lisa Aziz, who previously worked with the breakfast TV station, was its presenter.[5] Other programmes included Fusion East, a music show, and imported animated series such as Sandokan.[2] The channel's programmes not only catered South Asians in the UK, but also on the European mainland.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Wheatley, Catherine (17 December 2001). "Small ideas with big prospects". Sunday Business.
- 1 2 3 West, K. (30 March 2000). "Media choice: Channel East". Marketing.
- ↑ "Channel East Readies Launch for Asian Community | News". Broadcast. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ TRANSPONDER MONITOR. (2000). Interspace, (686), 1.
- 1 2 "TV's Eastern promise | Business". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ Wale Azeez (2001). Race in the Media awards. London (UK): Guardian News & Media Limited.
- ↑ Rebecca Allison (2001, Apr 27). Craig david picks up best artist award. The Guardian
- ↑ "Channel East blames staff for production cuts | Television industry". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-04-02.