That's TV
That's TV is a British free-to-air television network operated by That's Media Group, specializing in nostalgic programming that includes classic television series, cult classics, and music videos from the 1960s through the 2000s.[1] The network airs content across six UK-wide channels—That's TV, That's TV 2, That's TV 3, That's Melody, That's Dance, and That's Oldies—focusing on iconic shows and era-defining music to evoke past decades.[1] Available nationally on platforms such as Freeview (channel 56), Sky (channel 171), Freesat (channel 164), and Virgin Media, it also offers localized versions in 22 regions featuring brief news bulletins amid the retro lineup.[1][2] Originally established in 2015 as That's Television to provide community-focused local services in areas like Manchester and Lancashire, the network has since pivoted toward archived entertainment, with local content reduced to short daily updates while prioritizing viewer demand for vintage media over expansive original production.[3][4] This shift reflects a broader trend in local TV where nostalgic reruns and music blocks have supplanted fuller news and community programming, sustaining operations through cost-effective scheduling of licensed classics like The Benny Hill Show.[4][5] Headquartered in Salford, Greater Manchester, under companies such as That's TV Network Limited (registered 2017), the group maintains certifications as a Living Wage Employer and emphasizes accessible, feel-good content distribution.[6][7]History
Origins and Local Licensing (2012–2015)
That's TV was founded in 2012 by Daniel Cass, a media entrepreneur, specifically to capitalize on the UK government's local television initiative, which aimed to license up to 21 community-oriented digital terrestrial services across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to enhance hyper-local content and competition.[8][9] The scheme, overseen by Ofcom following legislative changes in the 2010 Digital Economy Act, involved competitive bidding rounds starting in May 2012, with licences requiring commitments to original local programming, including at least three hours weekly of news and current affairs produced in the served area.[10] That's Television Ltd, the operating entity owned by That's Media Ltd, positioned itself as a lean operator focused on news-driven services to meet these regulatory thresholds while minimizing costs. In November 2012, Ofcom announced the award of That's TV's inaugural licence for Oxfordshire (also referred to as That's Oxford), to be headquartered in Abingdon and emphasizing local news coverage for the region.[11] This followed an earlier round of awards in September 2012 for other areas like Brighton and Grimsby, marking the onset of the national rollout.[12] The Oxfordshire licence required the service to deliver programming reflecting the area's character, including coverage of local events, businesses, and issues, with initial funding support drawn from the BBC licence fee via a £25 million government allocation for transmission and startup costs across all local services.[13] Between 2013 and 2015, That's TV continued aggressive bidding, securing additional licences in subsequent Ofcom rounds for regions including parts of the South West and Midlands, contributing to the growth from fewer than 10 licensed services in 2013 to 20 by the end of 2015.[14] These early wins established the company as an early consolidator in the fragmented sector, though actual launches were delayed until 2015–2016 due to infrastructure buildout and spectrum allocation managed by contractor Canis Media, which secured the national local TV multiplex contract in January 2013.[15] By mid-2015, That's TV held a modest but strategic portfolio amid challenges like limited advertising revenue and viewer uptake, prompting a focus on efficient centralized production models from the outset.[16]Initial Launches and Early Operations (2016–2019)
That's TV expanded its portfolio of local television services during 2016, including the launch of Bay TV Swansea on 15 July, which provided news and entertainment targeted at the Swansea Bay area.[17] The channel operated under That's TV ownership, focusing on a schedule dominated by archived programming with limited local inserts to meet Ofcom licensing requirements for regional content.[17] This approach reflected the company's strategy of leveraging inexpensive repeat content from international archives, such as classic dramas and sitcoms, while fulfilling minimal obligations for hyper-local news bulletins.[8] In August 2017, That's TV acquired the Norwich-based Mustard TV service, integrating it into its network and rebranding it to align with the That's TV format of centralized operations and reduced on-site production.[18] The acquisition allowed expansion into East Anglia without significant new infrastructure investment, as programming was increasingly produced from shared facilities rather than dedicated regional studios.[18] By mid-2018, further growth occurred through the purchase of STV's city-region licenses in Scotland, adding services in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other areas to the portfolio.[19] Early operations were characterized by efforts to achieve economies of scale amid financial pressures, including staff reductions at Bay TV Swansea in January 2018, where multiple positions were eliminated to streamline costs.[17] Ofcom placed three stations—That's Manchester, That's Solent, and That's Oxford—on notice in March 2016 for technical compliance failures, initiating a series of at least thirteen investigations into the licensee between March 2016 and later years over issues like inadequate local programming fulfillment and content standards breaches.[20][21] These probes highlighted tensions between the local TV model's intent for community-focused output and That's TV's reliance on national-scale, low-cost repeats, with local news often limited to repeated short segments produced remotely.[22][8] By 2019, That's TV managed approximately 20 local licenses across England, Wales, and Scotland, prioritizing regulatory compliance through consolidated production hubs, such as in Salford, to minimize expenses while airing predominantly non-original content.[23] This period established the operational template of thin local engagement—typically 30 minutes of daily news repeats—amid ongoing Ofcom oversight, enabling survival in a fragmented digital market but drawing criticism for diluting the public service ethos of local television.[24][21]National Expansion and Channel Diversification (2020–2023)
In response to the commercial difficulties of sustaining robust local programming across multiple licenses, That's TV sought regulatory adjustments from Ofcom to streamline operations. By July 2020, the company had obtained permission to significantly reduce its local news output, limiting it primarily to brief daily bulletins in many areas, as full local services proved unviable amid low viewership and high costs.[25] [24] This shift allowed reallocation of resources toward nationally distributed content, with Ofcom approving the consolidation of production bases outside certain licensed regions by November 2020, enabling centralized operations for efficiency.[26] A key milestone in this diversification came on June 4, 2020, with the launch of That's TV Gold, a national channel emphasizing nostalgic entertainment, music videos, and films spanning the 1960s to contemporary eras, simulcast across existing local feeds where local content was minimal.[27] The channel expanded availability to Freeview by July 9, 2020, and later to Freesat in October 2021, broadening its audience beyond regional boundaries.[28] Building on this, That's TV introduced decade-themed programming to capitalize on demand for retro content. In February 2021, it tested a '60s makeover' weekend rebrand as That's 60s, airing ad-free music and shows that drew over 500,000 viewers, prompting a permanent strand dedicated to 1960s hits.[29] This evolved into a full 24-hour That's 60s channel by January 2023, hosted by Tony Blackburn and featuring non-stop era-specific music and clips, distributed nationally on platforms like Freeview, Sky, and Virgin Media. Similarly, That's 90s launched on Sky in August 2022, followed by Freeview rollout, focusing on 1990s music videos and programming to further segment the nostalgic market.[30] These additions diversified the portfolio into music-oriented channels, reducing reliance on local opt-outs and prioritizing scalable, low-cost archived content for wider UK distribution.Recent Developments and Acquisitions (2024–present)
In January 2024, That's TV launched its sister channel, That's TV 2, on Freeview channel 65, Sky channel 188, and Freesat channel 181, focusing on archive programming including the first season of the Australian soap opera Home and Away.[31][32] The channel expanded the broadcaster's portfolio of nostalgic content, airing classic series to complement the main That's TV service.[33] On August 19, 2024, That's TV introduced new music channels by replacing its existing That's 80s and That's 90s services: That's Melody debuted on Sky channel 361 with a focus on iconic pop and melody-driven tracks, while That's Rock launched to feature rock anthems, available on Sky and other platforms.[34] These changes aimed to refresh the lineup amid evolving viewer preferences for genre-specific music programming, with That's Melody positioned as a direct successor emphasizing timeless hits.[35] In May 2024, That's TV announced plans for a new streaming app integrating on-demand access to its programs alongside live channel streams, though specific launch details and platform availability remained undisclosed at the time.[36] On December 16, 2024, the UK media regulator Ofcom ruled that That's TV breached licensing conditions by failing to deliver "significant local newsgathering" in 14 of its local service areas during the period from April 1 to December 31, 2022, prompting scrutiny over compliance with commitments for original regional content production.[37][38] The decision followed an investigation into the licensee's reporting practices, highlighting ongoing challenges in fulfilling quotas for locally sourced news and current affairs.[39] No major corporate acquisitions were reported for That's TV during this period, with expansion primarily through internal channel launches and programming adjustments rather than external mergers or asset purchases.Ownership and Operations
Corporate Structure and Key Personnel
That's Media Group Limited (company number 07843843), incorporated on November 11, 2011, functions as the holding company for the That's TV network, encompassing multiple subsidiaries responsible for broadcasting, content production, and channel operations.[40] Key subsidiaries include That's TV Network Limited (company number 10892643), which holds the trademark for That's TV and manages network-level activities; That's Television Limited (company number 09081714), focused on television services; That's TV Channels Limited (company number 07896329), handling channel distribution; and others such as That's Media Limited (company number 09489484) for broader media operations, County Music Entertainment Limited (company number 08620331) for specialized content, and TCC Broadcasting Limited (company number 10796110).[6] All entities share a registered office at 27 Modwen Road, Waters Edge Business Park, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 3EZ, United Kingdom, reflecting a centralized operational structure optimized for regulatory compliance and cost efficiency in the UK's local digital television sector. The group maintains a lean executive structure typical of independent regional broadcasters, with Edward Simons serving as chairman since 2012, when he became a founder shareholder. Simons, with prior experience in media production including executive roles in film and television, provides strategic oversight amid the challenges of local TV licensing and funding.[41] Daniel Cass holds the position of chief executive officer of That's Media, having founded the group and directed its expansion from initial local licences to a national network of channels. Cass, appointed director across multiple subsidiaries including That's TV Broadcasting Limited, has been instrumental in navigating Ofcom regulations, BBC funding allocations, and operational adjustments, such as reducing local programming during the COVID-19 pandemic to sustain viability.[42][24] No public disclosures detail further C-suite roles, underscoring the group's emphasis on integrated management rather than expansive hierarchies.[6]Financial Model and Funding Sources
That's TV's financial model centers on commercial advertising revenue generated from its free-to-air channels, including sales of airtime to advertisers targeting niche audiences such as retro entertainment and music enthusiasts.[43] The group employs a networked approach, pooling revenues across its stations to optimize distribution costs and content production, enabling a fully commercial operation that minimizes reliance on per-channel silos.[44] In its early local TV operations, That's TV benefited from public subsidies redistributed by the BBC from licence fee revenues to meet statutory local programming quotas, with the company receiving over £3 million in such funds by 2018 to support minimal qualifying content production.[8] These contributions, while enabling licence acquisitions, drew criticism for incentivizing low-cost compliance over substantive local journalism, as stations often aired limited original content alongside teleshopping to fulfill obligations.[8] The company reports estimated annual revenue of approximately $23.8 million, supporting operations with around 22 to 121 employees depending on group entities.[45] [46] Pre-tax profits rose to £928,746 in 2023 from £473,170 the prior year, reflecting expansion and efficiency gains amid a shift toward national channels less dependent on subsidies.[47] Funding remains internally generated through operational revenues, with no documented external venture capital, private equity, or institutional investors; the group is privately held under That's Media Ltd without public disclosures of debt financing or shareholder infusions.[48]Office, Studio, and Production Facilities
That's TV's head office is located at 27 Modwen Road, Waters Edge Business Park, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 3EZ, serving as the primary administrative and operational hub for the company.[49][50] This facility supports core functions including content management and national channel operations, with the Salford site integrated into the Manchester production center. Production facilities have undergone significant consolidation to enhance efficiency amid financial pressures in local television. Initially operating 20 local studios upon acquiring licenses, That's TV announced in July 2019 the closure of 13 studios, reducing to seven regional production centers: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, York, Cambridge, Salisbury, and Swansea.[51] These centers produced content for multiple licensed areas, with news bulletins often presented from regional hubs rather than individual local sites. In November 2021, Ofcom granted consent for further streamlining, closing the Edinburgh and York studios and shifting some operations, resulting in five remaining production centers: Glasgow, Manchester, Norwich, Salisbury, and Swansea.[52] Under this model, content for 20 local licenses is produced from non-local bases for 15 areas, as approved by Ofcom to maintain service character while allowing centralized news links recorded primarily in Manchester and Glasgow.[53] Specific groupings include Scottish services (Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow) from Glasgow; northern England (Carlisle, Grimsby, Manchester, Preston, Scarborough) from Manchester; eastern England (Cambridge, Norwich) from Norwich; southern England (Basingstoke, Guildford, Oxford, Reading, Salisbury, Southampton) from Salisbury; and Swansea from its local facility.[52] On-location and remote reporting supplement studio-based production, reflecting a shift from hyper-local studios to regional hubs amid declining viewership and revenue challenges in the local TV sector. No further closures have been publicly announced as of 2025, though Ofcom continues to monitor compliance with local content commitments.[54]Broadcasting Platforms
Distribution Methods and Availability
That's TV channels are distributed free-to-air across multiple platforms in the United Kingdom, emphasizing accessibility via digital terrestrial television (DTT), satellite, cable, and IP-based streaming services that leverage broadcast signals.[35] The network's national feeds, such as That's TV and That's TV 2, are available UK-wide, while local variants incorporating regional news and content operate in 22 specific locations, primarily through DTT and compatible streaming apps.[35] On Freeview, the primary DTT platform requiring a TV aerial, That's TV airs nationally on channel 56, with local services on channels 7 or 8 in the 22 designated areas; companion channels like That's TV 2 occupy channel 65 nationally.[35] Sky satellite viewers access That's TV on channel 171 UK-wide, alongside That's TV 2 on 181 and That's TV 3 on 183.[35] Freesat, another satellite option, carries That's TV on channel 164 and That's TV 2 on 165.[35] Virgin Media cable subscribers receive That's TV on channel 150 nationally, with local feeds on 159 in six locations and That's TV 2 on 151.[35] For streaming, Freely—an IP service integrated with DTT signals—offers That's TV on channel 42 nationally and local versions on channel 8 in 22 areas, extending availability to compatible smart TVs and devices without additional subscription fees.[35] As of 2024, That's TV channels were not available on standalone over-the-top (OTT) platforms like YouTube TV or dedicated apps independent of broadcast infrastructure, though the network announced plans for expanded streaming options.[36]| Platform | That's TV (National) | Local Availability | That's TV 2 (National) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeview | Channel 56 | Channels 7/8 (22 locations) | Channel 65 |
| Sky | Channel 171 | N/A | Channel 181 |
| Freesat | Channel 164 | N/A | Channel 165 |
| Virgin Media | Channel 150 | Channel 159 (6 locations) | Channel 151 |
| Freely | Channel 42 | Channel 8 (22 locations) | Channel 45 |