Together TV
Together TV is a British free-to-air television channel owned by The Community Channel, a community benefit society. The channel targets a women's audience aged 40 to 60, with programming related to health and wellness, hobbies, and creativity.
The channel was initially launched on 18 September 2000 as The Community Channel, with programming centered around promoting volunteerism and charitable organizations. It was initially backed by other British broadcasters who provided resources and other programming to the service. After selling its previous Freeview slot to A&E Networks in 2017, the channel re-launched on Freeview in January 2018 under its current name.
History
1999–2000
In 1999, an initiative by Caroline Diehl to create Community Channel was supported by Elisabeth Murdoch of BSkyB, deputy home secretary Paul Boateng and cabinet office minister Lord Charles Falconer.Community Channel launched on 18 September 2000 as a national two-hour "ethical shopping channel." This platform provided charities an opportunity to showcase their merchandise, raised awareness of the works of national charities, and contributed to increasing the number of volunteers across the UK.
2002–03
By 2002, Community Channel had increased its broadcast hours from three hours a day to 12 hours a day. It was chosen as one of the initial 30 free-to-view channels on the digital terrestrial platform Freeview. The BBC also agreed to supply relevant programming from the BBC archive to Community Channel.In conjunction with continued broadcasts of charity focused programming, Community Channel began a co-production with ITV's campaigning series That's Esther to promote volunteering.
2002 also saw Jane Mote, Editor BBC London – TV, Radio and Online – join Community Channel as channel controller.
In 2003 the channel produced First Up, a "cruelty-free" talent show. Milton Keynes ska-punk-funk-metal band Six.Point.Five were awarded first prize by viewers and an expert panel. The prize was five days' recording in Abbey Road with a producer of their choice.
2004–05
2004 saw the launch of flagship drama series Kismet Road. Commissioned by the Department of Health, Kismet Road used drama to promote good health. Using a number of Asian actors, writers, trainees and integrating Urdu and Punjabi in the dialogue, Kismet Road was a breakthrough series in showcasing a multicultural Britain.Community Channel also introduced an interactive TV donation service in 2004. This service offered a round-the-clock on-air presence for selected charities, encouraging donations from viewers. Developed by Sky Interactive, the red button feature also allowed participating charities to promote their fundraising campaigns, including existing programs, films, or advertisements, at no additional cost to the charities.
In 2004, Community Channel moved from an overnight slot on Freeview to a daytime slot.
2005 saw Nick Ware, former Creative Director for BBC Learning, take on the role of channel controller and Community Channel became available on NTL for 24 hours a day.
The documentary Abnormally Funny People broadcast in partnership with Sky and won several awards. It featured a group of gifted stand-up comedians: Tanyalee Davis, Steve Best, Liz Carr, Steve Day, Chris McCausland and Simon Minty. All but one of them is disabled and all are very funny. Abnormally Funny People celebrates its 10th anniversary at Edinburgh in summer 2015.
In support of The Year of The Volunteer campaign, Community Channel broadcast a range of programmes which highlighted the work of people who donated their time to good causes. Programmes included Beach Lovers and Charity Chic – a magazine show chronicling the lives of those involved in charity shop work.
Programming in July 2005 included Restoration and Soaplife, which featured Fiona Phillips as presenter.
In September, Community Channel and the Royal Horticulture Society produced "Britain in Bloom", a partnership that ran for three years of the RHS Awards, focusing on the Neighbourhood Award scheme, also working with the BBC.
Partnering with Channel Five, Mad 4 Arts was shown in October. Also in October, pairing with BBC, Community Channel aired the National Lottery Awards.
2006
On Thursday 6 July 2006, the Broadcasters Joint Declaration was renewed with new signatories and at an event was held at Channel 4. The signatories were BBC, ITV, Channel Four, Five, Sky, Turner, Flextech Television, Disney, MTV, Discovery, GMTV, ITN and PACT.Community Channel became available for two more hours on Freeview.
Community Channel was also at the forefront of the interactive TV campaign to raise money for the Indian Tsunami.
Launched to coincide with National Giving Week, Community Channel launched an online social networking area called YourCharitySpace for visitors to blog about charity issues. The site also offers visitors the chance to donate by linking to a specially designed page on the Charities Aid Foundation's website.
2006 saw the launch of Give More, Get More, Volunteer – a campaign to make volunteering more accessible for marginalised groups including people with no formal qualifications, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.
In January, The Skoll Foundation’s series The New Heroes aired, telling the dramatic stories of 14 daring people from all over the world who are helping bring social reform to poor and marginalized people around the globe.
In August, partnering with BBC Two, Community Channel broadcast Restoration Village, followed by North By North East in September.
In October, the channel broadcast the Screen Nation Film and Television Awards, recognising talented black and ethnic minority actors. Teaming up with Channel Five, Mad For Poetry was also broadcast in October, along with Saving a Stranger by Anthony Nolan.
In November, Ballet Saved My Life was broadcast as a partnership with Channel 4.
In December, teaming up with Channel 4, the Community Channel aired the Beacon Awards/Secret Millionaire and Oxfam.
2007–08
Community Channel launched an interactive initiative for young film-makers called Charge TV and described as "YouTube with a conscience". Charge TV ran for five series broadcasting on Community Channel and on the website.Daren Forsyth of BBC Future Media, became the channel’s Director of Innovation & New Media. Forsyth led a programme of digital media initiatives across Media Trust's media training, news distribution, film and TV productions and Community Channel, the TV and online service for charities.
In 2007, Community Channel joined forces with The Scout Association to deliver the live broadcast from Brownsea Island of the Sunrise Ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the movement.
In February, the channel aired James McAvoy: On the Tiger’s Trail, which featured the Scottish actor and explains the work of RETRAK's flagship project in Uganda.
In June 2007, the Giving Nation Challenge documentary aired which was filmed in schools across the UK showcasing young entrepreneurs participating in the Giving Nation Challenge, including their progress, and pitches to experts.
July 2007 saw ‘'Cutie HQ'’, produced by Hamma & Glamma that had replaced the axed ‘'CharliiTV'’ strand that ran from February 2006-June 2007, which was produced by RDF Television. It was narrated by Hannah Sandling with the tutions provided by Lily Vincent, Toni Micklebrough, Samanie Warren, Danielle Chapman, Desiree Skylark, Luciana Caporaso & Jessica Reid. ‘'Cutie HQ'’ ended in December 2008.
Community Channel also broadcast Summit About A Boy, following 22-year-old Lee McConville's extraordinary journey from the violent gang-ridden streets of Lozells in Birmingham to the exclusive briefings at the G8 summit in Germany, under the wing of veteran Times political editor Philip Webster.
In 2008, Community Channel’s Awareness Campaign featured focused programming for a variety of campaigns including Disability Week, World Mental Health Day, Black History Month, Aids and Human Rights Day.
2009–10
Community Channel launched its new BSL Zone on 21 January 2009. This initiative offers an extended service in signing supported programmes.Following on from their 2007 success, Community Channel joined forces with The Scout Association once again to showcase their six-part series Scout TV.
Spotting Cancer Early, a four-part series produced with Cancer Research UK, broadcast with Dr. Sarah Jarvis and Dr. Chris Steele presenting.
In 2010, Community Channel partnered with BT Vision and was available on Freeview for 24 hours a day from the month of May to June, leading to a notable spike in viewing figures.
In September 2010, Community Channel celebrated a decade of broadcasting. For the anniversary month in September, programmes including Inspiring Stories, How the Other Half Live, Living With Size Zero and other Sky health series were broadcast. Other seasons in 2010 included Alzheimers Awareness, Black History Month, Disability Week in December and programming for World AIDS Day.
Community Channel also launched Community Champions in partnership with Heavenly. This campaign aimed to recognise the individual champions in communities across the UK. The public were encouraged to nominate and vote for their own community champions. In addition, a dedicated telephone line enabled entry forms to be requested. The top 20 people with the highest number of registered votes were shortlisted and an independent judging panel then decided on the winning five. The five winners were recognised through a documentary that highlighted the impact that they make in their community.
Community Channel also partnered with Looking Local for interactive services on Sky.
October 2010 saw the celebration of Black History Month on Community Channel. Programmes included Black History and Me, Girl Guiding Anniversary, Future Shorts, Penny Revolution and Evicted.
In November 2010, Community Channel took a deeper look at deprivation during Poverty Month, with programmes including The Street: Film with the Homeless and SPIT: Squeegee Punks in Traffic. The Nick Broomfield Season, the Strictly Politics documentary, and Unicef and Children in Need weeks were also popular with audiences during this month too.