The UK’s first-ever dedicated LGBT TV channel, OUTtv, is launching next week
RuPaul. (Ethan Miller/Getty)
The UK’s first-ever TV channel dedicated to LGBT+ series, movies and documentaries, OUTtv, is launching next week on April 1.
According to its website, OUTtv “presents movies with an edgy twist from award-winning titles, through to indie features and acclaimed shorts”. It will also show “inspiring documentaries, internationally successful TV programmes including renowned LGBTQ+ series, reality shows and gameshows”.
Already available in several European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain, the channel will be available on Sky (channel 330) and viewers will also be able to subscribe online for £99 per year through the OUTtv website.
All of its programming in the UK will be exclusive to OUTtv, meaning it has never been aired in the UK before.
The channel will also report from LGBT+ film festivals, fashion shows, travel destinations and other LGBT+ events.
Its database of more than 500 titles includes RuPaul’s gameshow Gay for Play, a half-hour comedic trivia game show where a panel of six celebrities help two contestants answer pop culture questions to win cash and prizes.
Other titles include reality show Shade – Queens of NYC, new documentary Being Divine and a first look at thriller movie M/M.
According to SM Entertainment, although the channel is currently only available through Sky, more platforms are expected to follow soon.
A spokesperson said that the channel hopes to engage fully with the UK and Irish LGBT+ community. They added that they plan to launch a nationwide contest this summer to find “the face of OUTtv”.
The channel is keen to let viewers know that its content is not exclusively for the LGBT+ community, and added that it welcomes anyone that is “open-minded”. According to its website: “In fact, in other countries we see that 40 per cent of OUTtv viewers are straight women.”
OUTtv made history when it launched in Israel in 2019 to mark Pride month.
