 | |
| Country | Italy,Latin America,South Africa,Philippines |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Italy,Latin America,South Africa,Philippines |
| Programming | |
| Languages | Italian,Spanish,Portuguese,English |
| Picture format | 16:9HDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Universal Networks International (NBCUniversal) |
| History | |
| Launched | May 21, 1998 (Italy) February 1, 2010 (Latin America) September 30, 2011 (South Africa) September 18, 2023 (Philippines) |
| Replaced | Hallmark Channel (Latin America) |
| Closed | January 1, 2019 (Italy) |
| Links | |
| Website | http://www.studiouniversal.it/ |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Premium Gallery | LCN 338 |
| Streaming media | |
| Blast TV (Philippines) | Watch Live (requires user membership) |
Studio Universal is aspecialtytelevision channel focused onfilms. It is owned byUniversal Networks International. Programming is based on films (mainly fromUniversal Pictures) and related programs with interviews, insights,short films and frequent themed nights or seasons on which are shown films centred on onegenre,director oractor. TheStudio Universal brand was chosen as a core channel of Universal Networks International.[1] The channel was launched on February 1, 2010 inLatin America replacingHallmark Channel.[2][3]
The channel was originally launched inItaly in 1998 on satellite television platformStream TV and continued onSKY Italia from July 31, 2003 to June 1, 2008. A carriage dispute led the channel to be replaced byMGM Channel. TheStudio Universal channel resumed on May 8, 2009, onPremium Gallery, part of pay-television platformMediaset Premium.
It was announced in November, 2008 by Steve Patscheck, director of "Universal Networks Latin America", that the channel would be launched inLatin America on February 1, 2010 replacing TheHallmark Channel in the region. Studio Universal launched in September 30, 2011 inSouth Africa andsub-saharan Africa.[4]
Studio Universal was discontinued in Italy on 31 December 2018.[5]
In 2023, Studio Universal made its first launch in Southeast Asia thruTAP DMV's over-the-top streaming serviceBlast TV in the Philippines.[6]