Really (TV channel)

The channel was launched on 19 May 2009 at 9am as part of the major rebranding and repositioning of the UKTV network. The new channel was created to provide fashion, medical, real life, and crime programming on the UKTV network, by airing programming previously aired on UKTV Style. As part of the repositioning of UKTV Style to Home, this channel would focus primarily on home and garden programming. As part of this, UKTV Gardens was closed, with programmes merged with Home. The new channel Really would launch from UKTV Gardens' broadcast slot and would replace the channel on that service. Responsible for launching Really would be the channel head: Clare Laycock since July 2008.[1] The channel was originally available only on satellite and cable services, however on 14 June 2011, UKTV announced that Really would launch on Freeview channel 20 on 2 August 2011.[2] The channel, along with Drama, were added to Virgin Media in Ireland on September 2018.

On 1 April 2019, it was announced that UKTV co-owner Discovery Inc. would acquire the BBC's stake in Really.[3]

Really logo from 19 May 2009 to 14 May 2013.

Really's identity originally centred on a pop art style cartoon of women in various situations which as the ident goes on resolves itself into an unusual outcome. At this outcome, the characters are shown with speech bubbles containing the Really logo, which then forms into the centre of the screen.[4] Really used a generic promotion layout, consisting of the logo starting off the promotion before being located in the bottom right corner of the screen throughout before forming in the centre of the screen, alongside one of the ident characters, at the end.[5]

Really received a new look on 15 May 2013, created by Red Bee Media, along with a new slogan 'Really gets you'.[6]

On 31 March 2016, Really received new idents. This time, the screen is split into two at a 45-degree angle, and that 2 objects come together to form one, these idents are similar to the launch of the UKTV network in 1997. For example, a rose and a hypodermic needle, a camera and a bank safe and X-ray and ink.

On May 29, 2017, Really received another new identity.

In January 2021, Really introduced a new set of idents whilst retaining the old logo.

The majority of Really's programmes came from the programme archives of the BBC, through their once part ownership of UKTV. Due to a similar remit between the two channels, Really re-broadcasts many programmes previously shown on the channel BBC Three, and a few from BBC One, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The channel also has UK exclusive airings of the US shows Hart of Dixie and Covert Affairs.

Since the channel began airing in 2009, Medicals Real Life and Crimes on 7 September 2009 Most Haunted Live! 2015 remains the most watched programme in the channel's history. The episode featured a paranormal investigation at '30 East Drive'.

Really's current schedule of programmes include:

• UKTV
• Television in the United Kingdom