Another day, another “new” TV channel.
UK TV has decided to rename the stupidly named UK TV G2 as the even more stupidly named Dave.
UK TV has never exactly inspired a great deal of confidence in me regarding its branding. For years, there was simply a channel named UK Gold with a basic premise that it’d repeat classic old British television. It’s a joint partnership between the BBC and Virgin Media (formerly Flextech), and as such, has relied on largely showing BBC programmes.
Over time, the channel was joined by various other “UK” channels like UK History and UK Drama.
But then at some point in 2004, somebody decided that it’d be a much better idea to insert “TV” into the channels’ names. So then we had “UKTV Gold”, “UKTV History”, “UKTV Drama” et al. Of course, nobody actually says those extra letters – UKTV Gold is still called by all and sundry “UK Gold.”
As Wikipedia notes, the channel now known as Dave has an even more ridiculous history, having previously burnt through “UK Gold Classics”, “UK Gold 2”, “UKG2”, and the even more appallingly meaningless “UKTV G2” until we arrive at Dave.
The reason for it being called Dave, incidentally is that “everyone knows a bloke called Dave.” (It might be true today, but isn’t likely to be so for much longer. I’ve just been looking at popular boys names; David is at number 66, and is less popular today than Finlay (and Finley come to that), Kai, Connor, Harrison, Dylan and Cameron. John is even less popular at 75. The way I see it is that if you’re having a child, pick a name that’s not in the top fifty of this list or the equivalent girls’ list. Oh, and read the chapter on names in Freakonomics.)
So what is Dave doing different to the previous channel incumbent, UKTV G2?
Er. Not a lot.
Here’s the exciting line-up tonight:
7.00pm Whose Line Is It Anyway (Double Bill
8.00pm Top Gear
9.00pm QI
9.40pm Never Mind The Buzzcocks
10.20pm Have I Got News For You
11.00pm QI
11.40pm Never Mind The Buzzcocks
12.20am Have I Got News For You
Maybe “Slightly Warmed Over BBC2” would be a better new name for Dave?