On Wednesday (24 March) at 21h00 DStv's
Hallmark Channel will disappear on Channel 108 forever, to be re-invented into the Universal Channel.
The channel still features signature Hallmark series including shows such as Law & Order, Being Erica and Monk, but the look, feel and branding has been re-created.
The channel debuts with an evening of premieres that feature new seasons that haven't been broadcast previously - either on Hallmark or any other channel available to us.
To see the premieres on Wednesday night, please beam here:
Universal Channel - Debut Line-Up.Hallmark and the Universal Channel, are owned by Universal Networks International (part of NBC Universal), who have four other channels too - one of which happens to be the SyFy channel.
You may remember that the Sci-Fi Channel (as it was spelt then) was rudely ripped away from us years ago, with no news as to whether or not it would ever be returned.
Some of the signature shows moved to
M-Net Action but this hasn't delivered the same experience or feeling for space junkies, who want to keep in touch with every bit of current sci-fi programming on a channel that mirrors the trippy world of the shows completely.
We've been scooping for futuristic news from Universal to find out what's what with it and it turns out there's a one-in-four-chance that'll it'll be back on our screens in the next year or so.
Word from the network is that they're currently in negotiations with DStv to introduce one of the other four channels. These are the channel options:
13TH STREET UniversalAn action and suspense channel focusing on crime and thriller series and movies. (Yeah, yeah, there's lots of this on
everywhere already.)
Diva UniversalA channel dedicated to women. Shows include: The Ellen Degeneres Show, Oprah, Bold and the Beautiful, The Housewives of Orange County, Top Chef and Style By Jury. (All shows available across other channels already).
STUDIO UniversalA speciality movie channel with movies from the NBC stable, as well as companions shows and specials such as interviews, insights into movies and themed nights. (Sounds quite good but not nearly as cool or different enough to beat the ...)
SyFy Channel A channel dedicated to all science fiction shows. Interesting to note: it officially changed name from Sci-Fi to SyFy in the US in July 2009 and changes name round the rest of the world this year. Just in time for us to get it too. Out of the four, it's definitely our top choice as the new addition. A link to the US site with more about it:
SyFy.We'll keep you posted as soon as we sniff more as to how things unfold.
Fast factHallmark was one of the 16 channels on the first DStv bouquet when the paycaster launched in 1995.