Lifetime (TV network)

Lifetime is an American basic cable channel that is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a subsidiary of A&E Networks, which is jointly owned by Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company.[1][2] It features programming that is geared toward women or features women in lead roles. As of January 2016, it is received by 93.8 million households in America.[3]

Lifetime
Tenth and current Lifetime logo, introduced in 2020.
LaunchedFebruary 1, 1984 (1984-02-01)
Owned byA&E Networks
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
SloganTV worth living
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
Replaced
  • Daytime
  • Cable Health Network/Lifetime Medical Television
Sister channel(s)
Websitewww.mylifetime.com
Availability
Satellite
Orby TVChannel 126
Dish NetworkChannel 108 (SD/HD)
DirecTVChannel 252 (SD/HD)
Cable
Available on most American cable providersChannel slots vary on each system
IPTV
Verizon FiOS
  • Channel 140 (SD)
  • Channel 640 (HD)
AT&T U-verse
  • Channel 360 (SD)
  • Channel 1360 (HD)
VMedia (Canada)Channel 83 (HD)
Zazeen (Canada)Channel 117 (HD)
Streaming media
fuboTVInternet Protocol television
PhiloInternet Protocol television
Sling TVInternet Protocol television
Hulu with Live TVInternet Protocol television
Amazon Video(requires subscription to access content
TVPlayerWatch live (UK only) (TVPlayer Plus subscription required)

Predecessors

Daytime

Daytime, originally called BETA, was launched in March 1982 by Hearst-ABC Video Services.[4][5][6] The cable service operated four hours per day on weekdays. The service was focused on alternative women's programming.[5]

Cable Health Network

Cable Health Network was launched as a full-time channel in June 1982 with a range of health-related programming. In November 1983, Cable Health Network adopted a new name, Lifetime Medical Television.[5]

History

Hearst/ABC-Viacom Entertainment Services

Lifetime was established on February 1, 1984 as the result of a merger of Hearst/ABC's Daytime and Viacom's Lifetime Medical Television.[4][5] A board for the new network was formed with equal representation from Hearst, ABC, and Viacom, and the board elected Thomas Burchill as the new network's first CEO.[7] It was not an initial success, reportedly losing $36 million in its first two years of operation, and did not become profitable until 1986.[8] The channel suffered from low viewership, with a poll reportedly finding that some TV viewers erroneously believed it carried religious content.[8]

In 1985, Lifetime started branding itself as "Talk Television" with a nightly lineup of talk shows and call-in programs hosted by people including Regis Philbin and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. In the process, the creators dropped the apple from the logo.

In 1988, Lifetime hired Patricia Fili as its head of programming. In the first three years of her tenure, she changed 60 percent of Lifetime's programming, by her own estimate.[8] In addition to overhauling Lifetime's signature talk show, Attitudes, by hiring a new producer and refocusing it on current women's issues, Fili acquired the rights to syndicated network hits like Moonlighting and L.A. Law. She also oversaw the production of the first Lifetime movies ever made, along with carrying the final three seasons of the Blair Brown–starring dramedy The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd from NBC after the network canceled it. The network also showed movies from the portfolios of its owners, Hearst, ABC, and Viacom.[7] In 1991, reporter Joshua Hammer stated, "Considered one of cable TV's backwaters, [...] Lifetime network was replete with annoying gabfests for housewives and recycled, long-forgotten network television series, such as Partners in Crime and MacGruder and Loud. [...] Under Fili's direction, Lifetime has gone a long way toward shedding its low-rent image."[8]

Lifetime began airing a limited amount of women's sports coverage, including the WNBA and the America's Cup, in which it sponsored the first women's crew team to compete. McCormick also strengthened the network's ties with women's organizations such as the National Organization for Women, and began airing public service announcements about women's issues, such as breast cancer awareness. Lifetime also adopted a new tagline. "Lifetime – Television for Women."[7]

Meanwhile, the channel's original programming was aimed not just at women aged 24–44, but these women's spouses, who research showed watched the network in the evenings with their wives. This was done by making the male characters in Lifetime's original programming – such as the film series Spencer for Hire – more appealing to men by making them more masculine. These roles were more stereotypical than previous Lifetime movies, which usually featured women protagonists on their own. This helped Lifetime take advantage of a known bias in the Nielsen ranking system that favored "upscale" couples who shared a television set. By January 1995, Lifetime was the sixth most-highly rated subscription network by Nielsen.[7]

Lifetime Entertainment Services

In 1996, TCI, one of the United States' largest subscription providers, announced that it would no longer carry Lifetime in certain markets to make room for the soon-to-be-launched Fox News Channel, in which TCI held a financial stake.[9] According to Lifetime executives, the network stood to lose up to one million subscribers due to TCI's move.[9] However, Lifetime published advertisements in some of the markets that would be affected – including Eugene, Oregon and Newport, Rhode Island – informing customers that TCI was removing the only network that was made for women.[7] After TCI customers called the company to complain, TCI cut back the number of homes that would lose Lifetime to approximately 300,000. Still, women's groups and politicians rallied behind Lifetime.[9] Colorado representative Patricia Schroeder called TCI's decision a "power play" between TCI chief executive John Malone and Fox executive Rupert Murdoch, and said, "Women kind of feel like they're being rolled over so that the guys who run these companies can make more money."[9]

Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank said that the decision showed that Fox "might have an agenda of its own that is anti-woman."[9] TCI executives were surprised and angry about the public's reaction. TCI's vice president of programming was quoted in The New York Times as saying, "I resent the implication that they are the women's network. Other networks come in to us and say Lifetime is not telling the truth. Lifetime is a women's channel only in name and advertising. [...] It programs for ratings." TCI senior vice president Robert Thomson stated that the reaction was "laughably out of scale," based on the fact that less than 10 percent of Lifetime's audience would be affected. TCI executives chalked the politicians' reactions up to lobbying by Lifetime and it being an election year, and suggested to the Times that in retaliation, Disney (one of Lifetime's parent companies), may have trouble launching a new network on TCI.[9] In 1997, it was reported that Lifetime had 67.7 million subscribers.[10]

A&E ownership

On August 27, 2009, Lifetime was acquired by A&E Networks; the company was already owned by Lifetime's shareholders Hearst and Disney, but with additional shares owned by NBC Universal.[11][12][1][2] NBCUniversal divested its stake in A&E Networks in 2012, once again leaving the network as a Disney/Hearst joint venture.[13]

Programming
Main article: List of Lifetime original programming

Lifetime's original content is currently composed of made-for-TV films and reality series, such as Dance Moms. The network states that it "is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families."[14]

In the past, Lifetime used to air several game shows in daytime and early evenings, including Supermarket Sweep, Shop 'til You Drop, Rodeo Drive, Born Lucky, and Debt. Lifetime also produced one original game show (Who Knows You Best?, starring Gina St. John), with a format based on The Newlywed Game; it was canceled after one season. The network has also previously produced scripted dramas, such as Devious Maids and Witches of East End.

The network currently airs a mix of second-run syndicated series (such as How I Met Your Mother and Grey's Anatomy) during the daytime hours. In the past, Lifetime has revived several programs that originally aired on other networks. In 1988, it bought the rights to the existing 26 episodes of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd from its original broadcaster NBC, and produced 39 additional episodes of the series. Lifetime did not renew the show reportedly because of low ratings and the high cost to produce the program.[8] In late 2011, the network began to air new episodes of America's Most Wanted, a program canceled in series form by Fox at the end of the 2010–11 season,[15] although special feature episodes continued to air intermittently on Fox. Lifetime aired more than 40 new episodes of the program before cancelling it in 2013.[15]

In January 2018, Lifetime announced its intention to film Harry & Meghan: The Royal Love Story, a story about the relationship between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.[16]

Films

Lifetime airs many films targeted to women – made-for-television films produced for the channel as well as those previously broadcast on other networks, and some feature films, both on the main network and on Lifetime Movies (a spin-off pay television channel that was launched in 1998; formerly Lifetime Movie Network). The channel also produces its own television films as Lifetime Pictures.

Sports

In its early years, Lifetime occasionally broadcast coverage of women's professional sports. From its inaugural season in 1997 to 2000, Lifetime was one of three broadcasters of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), alongside NBC and ESPN. In 2000, Lifetime phased out its live broadcasts and replaced them with an original series documenting the lives of WNBA players. The network stated that it wanted to focus on "stories" rather than event coverage; Lifetime transferred its package of games to ESPN2.[17][18] As part of an arrangement with Raycom Sports, the network also broadcast the LPGA's Tournament of Champions in 1998.[19]

In February 2017, A&E Networks acquired an equity stake in the National Women's Soccer League, and announced that Lifetime would broadcast a weekly, Saturday-afternoon game beginning in the 2017 season.[20][21]

High-Definition

Lifetime launched an HD simulcast on April 16, 2008.[22]

International versions

Canada

On May 30, 2012, Canadian television broadcaster Shaw Media announced that it would rebrand Showcase Diva, a Category B subscription specialty channel as the Canadian version of Lifetime under a licensing agreement with A+E Networks; Showcase Diva relaunched as Lifetime on August 27, 2012.[23]

Southeast Asia

AETN All Asia Networks plans to bring the Lifetime channel into Southeast Asia. The channel began broadcasting on 14 June 2013, with Astro and StarHub TV being two of the first providers to carry Lifetime in Asia. In July, available in Hong Kong now TV channel 520. And since September 1, 2014, Lifetime Asia airs in the Philippines on Dream Satellite TV channel 18 and SkyCable.[24]

United Kingdom and Ireland

A+E Networks UK launched a version of Lifetime for the UK and Ireland in November 2013.[25] The shows announced to be airing on the channel are The Client List, Damages the Lifetime U.S. original movie, Liz & Dick, and an original series called The Proposers.[26]

Latin America
Lifetime Latin America
Launched1 July 2014 (2014-07-01)
Owned byA&E Networks
Sony Pictures Television
LanguageSpanish, Portuguese
Broadcast areaLatin America
ReplacedSony Spin
Sister channel(s)A&E
History
H2
Canal Sony
AXN
WebsiteLifetime Latin America
Lifetime Brazil

Lifetime announced the launch of a Latin American version of the network, which launched on July 1, 2014, in association with Sony Pictures Television Latin America.[27] It supplanted the now-defunct Sony Spin channel (formerly known as Locomotion from 1996 to 2005 and Animax from 2005 to 2011) on the Amazonas satellite serving South America. Lifetime Latin America is currently distributed by HBO Latin America Group, currently based in Bogotá, Colombia, under license from A+E Networks Latin America and Sony Pictures Television Latin America. In Brazil, its programming is fully dubbed in Portuguese.

In Mexico, it was launched on October 1, 2014, replacing The Biography Channel.

Africa

A+E Networks launched the African version of Lifetime on July 22, 2014.

Israel

A+E Networks launched a version of Lifetime for Israel on September 14, 2014, replaced The Biography Channel.[28]

Turkey

On March 16, 2016, A&E Television Networks has announced that Lifetime (Turkey) channel was launched on April 26, 2016, in Turkey with cooperation of Multi Channel Developers.[29]

South Korea

A localized version of Lifetime was launched on September 22, 2017 by A+E Networks Asia-Pacific and local company iHQ. Its programming primarily consists of Korean dramas, talk shows, and entertainment programs. Backstreet Rookie is the first Korean drama invested in by the channel.[30]

MENA

In 2019, A&E Television Networks will launch a version of Lifetime for the Middle East & Northern Africa region.

Australia

A&E Television Networks will launch a version of Lifetime for the Australia & New Zealand region. However, the network in Australia will be a joint venture with Foxtel network.

LRW
LRW
LaunchedAugust 20, 2001 (2001-08-20)
Picture format480i (SDTV; most current-day programming presented in widescreen letterbox)
Availability
Satellite
Orby TVChannel 130
IPTV
Verizon FiOSChannel 142
AT&T U-verseChannel 364

LRW (Lifetime Real Women) is an American pay television channel which is intended as a complementary service to the main Lifetime network. It was launched in August 2001, mainly as a response to Lifetime's challenges from the then-launching WE tv and Oxygen networks for the women's network market.[31] LRW is available in over 10 million homes via Verizon FiOS, and AT&T U-verse. The network has a mixture of comedies, dramas, how-to, game shows and reality programming that had once aired or is currently airing on the main Lifetime network, and formerly imported series with rights held by Lifetime but no carriage due to the main network's current format. LRW also features no original series or films, deferring from Lifetime and LMN, though it did burn off the 2011 Lifetime reality series Love Handles: Couples in Crisis, which only aired twice on the main network.

DirecTV carried the network until July 2007. Currently the network is available on satellite through OrbyTV.[32]

Cable carriage has declined as providers choose instead to carry high definition networks rather than standard definition-only channels such as LRW without original programming.

Lifetime Movie Club

On July 2, 2015, Lifetime launched a streaming service branded as Lifetime Movie Club (LMC). The service offers over 2,000 titles, both originally-produced & acquired by Lifetime.

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References
  1. Schneider, Michael (August 27, 2009). "A&E Acquires Lifetime". Variety. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  2. Atkinson, Claire (August 27, 2009). "A&E Networks, Lifetime Merger Completed". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. "Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: January 2016".
  4. (June 15, 1983) Hearst-ABC, Viacom in Pact. New York Times.
  5. Lifetime Entertainment Services History. International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 32. St. James Press, 2000. Hosted on Funding Universe.com. Retrieved on December 4, 2013.
  6. "ABC and Hearst Set Up Women's Cable TV; ABC and Hearst Set Up Cable TV Unit for Women". New York Times. January 30, 1981. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  7. Meehan, Eileen and Jackie Byars. "Telefeminism: How Lifetime Got Its Groove: 1984–1997." The Television Studies Reader. Psychology Press, 2004.
  8. Hammer, Joshua. "Programmer Revives Lifetime Cable Channel" (Page 1), (Page 2), Spartanburg Herald-Journal (South Carolina), July 13, 1991. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  9. Carter, Bill. "Plan to Cut TV Channel Angers Women's Groups." The New York Times, September 14, 1996. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  10. Winfrey, Lee. "The Man Who Leads A Women's Channel, Doug McCormick, Has Raised Lifetime's Visibility." The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 22, 1997. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  11. A&E Acquires Lifetime, Variety.com, August 27, 2009
  12. A&E Networks, Lifetime Merger Completed, Broadcasting & Cable, August 27, 2009
  13. Goldsmith, Jill (July 10, 2012). "Comcast to sell A&E stake for $3 billion: A&E to redeem the 15.8% stake". Variety. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  14. Press Release from A+E Networks: Lifetime Locks in Double-Digit Year-Over-Year Growth for Second Quarter 2013..., July 2, 2013. AENetworks.com, retrieved July 7, 2013.
  15. Goldberg, Lesley. Lifetime Cancels 'America's Most Wanted', The Hollywood Reporter, March 28, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (2018-01-15). "Prince Harry & Meghan Markle TV Movie Set At Lifetime". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  17. "Lifetime shifts its WNBA games to ESPN2". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  18. "WNBA coverage on Lifetime". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  19. "LPGA SIGNS DEAL TO SHOW TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS ON LIFETIME". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  20. "Lifetime To Air National Women's Soccer League Games As A+E Networks Kicks In For Equity Stake". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  21. "A+E Networks, National Women's Soccer League Ink Major Deal". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  22. Eggerton, John (April 16, 2008). "Lifetime Television Launches HD Channel". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  23. Shaw Media and A&E to Launch Two New Specialty Channels, Broadcaster Magazine, May 30, 2012
  24. "Lifetime and H2 roll out across Southeast Asia". realscreen. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  25. "November UK launch for A+E's Lifetime". Broadband TV News. 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  26. Jeffery, Morgan (2013-07-04). "Lifetime to launch in the UK, to air 'Damages', 'Liz & Dick'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
  27. Llega un nuevo canal en el mes de Julio Archived 2014-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, Otros Cines TV, April 28, 2014.
  28. "Bio to rebrand to Lifetime in Israel". Digital TV Europe. 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  29. "Lifetime TV yakında Türkiye'de!". Yeni Yeni Şeyler. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  30. "Ji Chang-wook and Kim Yoo-jung Confirm Roles in "Backstreet Rookie" by the PD of "The Fiery Priest"". Hancinema. January 29, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  31. Levin, Gary (11 April 2001). "Lifetime adds 'Real Women' to its networks". USA Today. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  32. "Channel Lineup". Orby TV. July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
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