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We TV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Tencent Video, the international streaming service known as WeTV outside mainland China.
Not to be confused with MeTV.
We TV
Logo used as of July 1, 2024
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersNew York City
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerAMC Networks
Sister channelsAMC
BBC America
IFC
Sundance TV
History
LaunchedSeptember 1, 1997; 27 years ago (1997-09-01)
Former namesRomance Classics (1997–2000)
WE: Women's Entertainment
(2000–2006)
Links
Websitewww.wetv.com
Availability
Streaming media
PhiloInternet Protocol television
YouTube TVInternet Protocol television
Sling TVInternet Protocol television

We TV is an American pay television channel owned by AMC Networks that is oriented mainly towards lifestyle and entertainment programming targeting women and African-Americans. It was originally launched on September 1, 1997 as Romance Classics, before adopting its current name on January 1, 2001.

As of November 2023, We TV is available to approximately 64,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2017 peak of 87,000,000 households.[1]

History

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Relaunch and early years

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Romance Classics launched on September 1, 1997, under the ownership of what was then the Cablevision Systems Corporation-controlled Rainbow Media. It was originally a movie channel focusing mostly on romantic dramas and comedies, and television miniseries. Similar to the original format of AMC, the channel initially broadcast its films commercial-free.[2] On January 1, 2001, the network was relaunched as WE: Women's Entertainment, taking on an ad-supported general entertainment format. By 2006, the network's name was shortened to WE tv.[3]

WE's programming would shift towards reality shows as the decade progressed. In addition to general fare (like Secret Lives of Women), the network became known for airing several shows related to weddings (such as Bridezillas, Big Easy Brides and My Fair Wedding with David Tutera).[4] On August 18, 2009, Rainbow launched a sister network called Wedding Central; the channel would last less than two years before it was closed on July 1, 2011.

In January 2011, We TV confirmed that it had signed Toni Braxton for a reality series, entitled Braxton Family Values, which is marketed as one of the flagship shows. The network was given a new logo and branding ahead of the show's launch, with the tagline "Life As WE Know It".[5]

In March 2012, the network ordered 14 episodes of Kendra on Top; a reality show following the lives of Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett, who previously appeared in the E! reality series Kendra. Kendra said the show focuses on "motherhood, parenthood, and wife hood".[6] Kendra On Top premiered on June 5, 2012.[7]

2014–present

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We tv logo from September 1, 2014 to June 30, 2024

In June 2014, We TV unveiled a new logo; AMC Networks president Marc Juris explained that while We TV was to remain "a leading destination for women on television and online", the goal of the new branding was to broaden the focus on the word "we" as representing shared experiences, describing it as "a powerful and universal theme which drives connection, conversation, collaboration and community".[8]

During this period, the network attempted a move into scripted series. The Divide, which was originally pitched for AMC, was cancelled after 1 season.[9][10] Its second series, South of Hell premiered in its entirely on November 27, 2015 as a Black Friday programming stunt.

In 2018, We TV premiered Love After Lockup, a reality show following relationships formed by singles who had been recently released from prison. Benefitting from word of mouth via fans on social media, Love After Lockup was one of the fastest-growing, newly-launched reality series on cable that year, became We TV's second-highest rated series among women 25–54 behind Marriage Boot Camp, while the show and its spinoff Life After Lockup helped make We TV the highest-rated cable network among African American women 25–54 on Friday nights in 2019.[11]

In December 2020, Urban Movie Channel (now Allblk) head Brett Dismuke became the general manager of both We TV and UMC, with plans to increase the synergies between the two services amid internal consolidations at AMC Networks, and ratings successes at the channel among African American audiences.[12]

List of programming broadcast by We TV

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Current

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Scripted

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  • Kold x Windy (2023–present)

Unscripted

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Acquired

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Former programming

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Scripted

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Unscripted

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Acquired

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See also

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  • Slice - Canadian cable channel that airs selected We TV programming from 2024.

References

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  1. ^ "U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  2. ^ "Can Cable Figure Out Women? / Romance Classics tries a name change". SFGate. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  3. ^ "Rainbow Media Brands: WE tv". Rainbow Media Group . Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  4. ^ "Sarah Haskins in Target Women: Wedding Shows". Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  5. ^ "WE tv Announces Pair of Original Series for 2011". Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  6. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (March 21, 2012). "Kendra lands new WE reality show, 'Kendra On Top'". USA Today. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  7. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 21, 2012). "We TV's Summer Line-Up Sizzles With 'Kendra', All New 'Bridezillas', More 'Braxtons' And 'L.A. Hair'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  8. ^ "WE tv Rebrands With New Logo, Graphics". Multichannel News. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2 June 2014). "WE TV Rebrands, Drops Women From Name, Unveils New Logo, Graphics". Deadline. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (23 July 2013). "WE TV Officially Greenlights LaGravenese/ Goldwyn Drama As First Scripted Series, Sets 3 Scripted Projects In Development". Deadline. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  11. ^ Aurthur, Kate (2019-11-20). "We TV Renews 'Love After Lockup' and 'Life After Lockup' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 3, 2020). "UMC's Brett Dismuke Promoted to GM, Adds WE tv Oversight (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Kondology, Amanda (April 10, 2013). "WE tv Unveils Three New Unscripted Originals: 'The Lylas', 'Pregnant & Dating' + 'The Ruckers: Southern Royals'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2013). "WE TV Renews 'Bridezillas' & 'David Tutera', Orders 'Bridezillas' Spinoff Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  15. ^ Marechal, AJ (October 22, 2017). "WeTV orders 'Obsessed With the Dress'". Variety. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  16. ^ Bibel, Sara (February 21, 2013). "WE tv Greenlights 'Glam & Gold' New Reality Series Featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Sanya Richards-Ross and NFL Star Aaron Ross". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  17. ^ "WE tv Announces New Series "The TS Madison Experience" Premiering March 4 at 10PM ET/PT" (Press release). WE tv. February 4, 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  18. ^ "WE: Women's Entertainment Enters the World of Animation with October 6th Premiere of 'Committed'".
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