.svg) Viva in the UK used a different logo compared to other Viva channels. | |
| Country | United Kingdom and Ireland |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom and Ireland |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Viacom International Media Networks Europe |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | October 26, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-10-26) |
| Replaced | TMF |
| Closed | January 31, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-01-31) |
| Replaced by | MTV OMG |
| Links | |
| Website | uk.viva.tv |
| Availability (at time of closure) | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview HD | Channel 57 |
| Streaming media | |
| Online | [1](UK only) |
Viva (stylised asVIVA) was a Britishfree-to-air music television channel owned byViacom International Media Networks Europe. The channel launched on 26 October 2009, replacingTMF,[1][2][3][4] and ceased broadcasting on 31 January 2018.
The channel was officially launched on 26 October 2009 byAlexandra Burke, with an exclusive live performance of her single "Bad Boys".[5] The first music video to be shown on Viva wasAlphabeat's "The Spell" inThe Official UK Chart Show Top 20 hosted bySarah-Jane Crawford. It originally broadcast for 24 hours a day untilNoggin was removed from the schedule and its hours were reduced to 6:00am – 9:00am. It was further reduced to 3:00am – 9:00am on 1 August 2011.
On 19 September 2011 the channel started broadcasting in the 16:9 picture format but theDOG was still set to the 4:3 picture format and appeared stretched; this was later fixed so it appears within the 4:3 safe zone. As with other Viacom channels, most 4:3 content has been stretched to14:9.[citation needed]
Viva dropped itsfree-to-view encryption on satellite on 19 March 2013, before launching on the free-to-air platform,Freesat, on 2 April 2013.[6]
On 8 October 2014, following theViacom takeover of UK broadcasterChannel 5, it was announced that Viva would be removed from Freeview with all of its entertainment content moving to5*.[7] Its EPG slot was taken over by5USA (which had moved from Freeview channel 31 for the launch ofSpike) on 15 April 2015, with Viva moving to Freeview channel 74 and its broadcast hours changed to 9:00 to 11:00. The channel continued broadcasting full-time on all other platforms.[8][9][10]
As of 31 July 2015, Viva moved to Freeview channel 58, and was only available to viewers who had devices which are compatible with Freeview HD, Freeview Play, YouView or EE TV in certain areas of the UK. It broadcast from 9:00 until 11:00.[citation needed] It moved once again on Freeview on 2 October 2015 from Channel 58 to 57. Following the establishment of a stream sharing capacity with 5USA +1, Viva extended to broadcast between 5:00am and 6:00pm on digital terrestrial television.
Viva ceased broadcasting on all platforms at 6:00 am on 31 January 2018, with the final music video shown wasSpice Girls' "Viva Forever". A day before, it was removed from Freesat, and the network's website was redirected to the MTV charts webpage. From 1 February, DTT's channel 57 began carrying a part-time placeholder broadcast of5Spike +1. The5:00 am – 6:00 pm hours previously used by Viva were now used to extend 5USA +1 into daytime.[11] Throughout February 2018, the temporaryValentine's Day–focused MTV Love network replaced it on Sky and Virgin Media, before being replaced by now defunct channelMTV OMG from 1 March 2018.
As well as music videos, Viva previously showed programmes from otherViacom channels includingMTV,Nickelodeon,Comedy Central andChannel 5.
Noggin was an early morningchildren's television block fromNick Jr., that was broadcast on Viva from 06:00 - 09:00 daily. The programming block was first shown onTMF and was initially carried over to Viva. As of March 2010 the block has ended. The schedule in October 2009 included;