Channel One (British cable network)

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Channel One was a network of local cable news channels in Britain, owned by Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT). It started in London on 30 November 1994 and later added channels for Bristol and Liverpool. In 1998 DMGT shut down its London and Bristol channels, while the Liverpool channel, partly owned by the Trinity Group, stayed on air until 2002.

The London channel, launched by Associated Newspapers, was the first to broadcast at a local level. It began with about 30 one‑man journalist crews. Its schedule mixed quick morning news and traffic, daytime rolling news and magazines, and late‑afternoon planning for the evening’s travel and entertainment. Much of the coverage was live to catch local events. As a basic cable channel, it aimed for around 300,000 potential viewers, with the London area making up about 40% of the network.

In June 1995 Channel One won two and a half hours of Wimbledon highlights for that year and said Digital World would be streamed online with still pictures, with audio planned later. Within less than a year, Channel One London had high ratings, ahead of Sky News but behind the four main terrestrial channels.

In June 1995 a second outlet covering Bristol and Bath was announced. The Bristol channel launched on 1 February 1996, serving about 50,000 households via United Artists’ cable service. However, revenues did not grow as hoped by 1996 due to fewer subscribers.

In September 1997 London joined with the Press Association to become a more “truly local” service, recruiting five journalists. On 2 September 1998 DMGT announced the closure of its London and Bristol channels; the Liverpool channel remained in operation. DMGT warned that cable subscribers would not break even by the end of its 10‑year licence (to 2004). The news came after the death of Viscount Rothermere, the chairman.

The final London news bulletin aired at 5:00 pm on 25 September 1998, followed by a 5:30 pm montage of footage. Channel One Liverpool, which began in 1996, closed on 30 October 2002 at noon; its 22 staff began looking for new jobs, and a plan to save the channel fell through when Telewest stopped payments.