Vision TV Network
Vision TV Network is a television channel distribution service provided by Vision247 Ltd in the United Kingdom. The service carries around 35 channels in English and other languages, streamed from the internet and accessed via Freeview channel 264, EE TV boxes, mobile apps or the web.
Country | United Kingdom |
---|---|
Broadcast area | National |
Headquarters | London, England |
Ownership | |
Owner | Vision247 |
History | |
Launched | February 8, 2012 (Vision TV Network) 2019 (VisionTV/VTC) |
Closed | April 30, 2019 (Vision TV Network) |
Former names | VisionTV (2012-2019) |
Links | |
Website | www |
Availability | |
Terrestrial | |
Freeview | Channel 264 (Visiontv.) [1][2] |
History
When Vision TV was launched in 2012, it provided viewers in the UK with access to a package of foreign TV channels.[3] Viewers had to subscribe online in order to watch pay TV channels on the Vision TV Network, which were delivered through data channels (110, 111 and 112) on Freeview HD set-top boxes, and later to Roku players.[4][5] As an IPTV service, the network also allowed two-way interactivity to enable functionality such as voting, commerce and targeted advertising.[6]
The service initially broadcast French, Greek, Polish and Turkish channels. In August 2012, Muslim and Arabic-language channels were added.[7] In March 2015, a Portuguese package called 'My Portuguese' was added, which included Benfica TV. In September 2015 the service became available on the web, as well as EETV set-top boxes.[8] In November 2015, iOS and Android apps were launched.[9]
The UK pay-TV service closed down on 30 April 2019 and was no longer available on Roku or mobile devices, though a separate package of free channels continued to stream online and via Freeview.
Visiontv. on Freeview
In addition to the subscription package of foreign language television channels on Roku/Now TV and Android devices, Vision247 launched a second service via Freeview channel 264.[1] Now branded as VisionTV (styled as Visiontv.), this free-to-view streaming service features a number of English-language channels with news and religious programming from around the world.
At the end of 2020, Visiontv. launched their own channel VTC (Vision TV Channel, styled as vtc. ) as part of their entertainment channels line-up[10] and added Newsmax TV[11] and Syria TV to their news channels.[12]
Vision247 and Mondo Globo on Freeview
As well as their own streaming portal, Vision247 Limited has teamed up with Canadian firm Mondo Globo[13] to secure a more permanent channel position in the streaming area of Freeview for a number of Arabic channels. This has included a slot on Freeview channel 272 for Asharq News[14] and channel 273 for MBC's Al Arabiya and Al Hadath services.[15][16]
Freeview channel line-up
The channel line-up, as of October 2022, on the Freeview visiontv. streaming service is as follows:[17]
- Arise News
- Arise Play (formally Live360)[18]
- Al Araby Television
- Al Araby2[19]
- Best Direct
- Brit Asia TV (An ex-Channelbox service)
- British Muslim TV
- Channel 7 (formally GNTV)
- Daystar
- DW English
- Edgy TV (broadcasting programmes from FTV.com)
- eSports24.tv
- Faith World TV
- France 24 French (also broadcasting via Channelbox) [20]
- Good News TV[21]
- Islam Channel
- Iran International
- JML
- Newsmax
- NTAI
- Propeller TV
- Revelation
- Sharjah TV
- Sikh Channel
- SportyStuffTV
- Supreme Master TV.com[22]
- Syria TV
- Sum TV
- That's TV[23] (only available via Vision TV on Freeview ch264, not through their website or app)
- 3ABN (broadcasting a number of separate channels for different languages: Dare to Dream, 3ABN, 3ABN Latino, 3ABN Proclaim!, 3ABN Français, 3ABN Kids, 3ABN Praise Him Music, 3ABN Russia,)
- TJC (The Jewellery Channel) [24]
- UK44[25]
Former channels
These channels have left their Freeview line-up, as of October 2022:
- SinoTV[26]
- Urdu1
- Glory TV
- Firstlight TV
- France 24 English (replaced by the French language version on 20 October 2022)[27]
- Jesus Sanctuary
- Peace TV
- Peace TV Urdu
- Iqra TV
- Iqra TV Bangla
- Hellenic TV 1 (now broadcasts via Channelbox)[28]
- HudaTV
- Spotlight TV[29][30] (moved to Channelbox and now known as Music & Memories)
- YANGA!
- FashionTV (the main FTV.com channel, now broadcasting via Channelbox)
- Sports Tonight
- CGTN (previously available on Vision TV platform under the name CCTV News) [31]
- ABP News
- Times Now
- Firstlight
- Dunamis TV
- IIPC TV
Company structure
Vision247 is a private limited company, established as Vision IPTV Ltd in 2006 and renamed in 2013.[32] Its sole director is Nduka Obaigbena, who has Nigerian nationality. There were 19 employees in 2019.[33]
References
- "Viewing IP channels on Freeview".
- https://visiontv.co.uk/where-to-watch
- "Vision TV Network for FreeviewHD". Advanced Television. 14 February 2012.
- "Freeview HD will deliver new IPTV channels this month". The Register. 6 September 2011.
- "Vision TV network comes to UK Roku". Broadband TV News. 19 July 2012.
- "Vision TV puts foreign channels on Freeview". Broadcast. 17 February 2012.
- "Vision TV Network adds Arabic and Muslim channels". Broadband TV News. 15 August 2012.
- "Vision247 adds services to EE TV". Broadband TV News. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- "Vision247 launches app: VisionTV UK". Broadband TV News. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- "VisionTV".
- "VisionTV".
- "VisionTV".
- "About | Mondo Globo".
- "Vision247 and Mondo Globo launch Asharq News Freeview IP Streamed LCN - Vision247". April 2022.
- "Vision247 and Mondo Globo launch al Arabiya and al Hadath IP Streamed Channels on Freeview - Vision247". April 2022.
- "Latest News - Vision247". 15 July 2019.
- "Freeview's 100 hidden channels > RXTV info". 18 October 2022.
- "Live 360 becomes Arise Play > RXTV info". 4 February 2022.
- https://visiontv.co.uk/channel/alaraby
- https://www.rxtvlog.com/2020/05/the-hidden-extra-channels-available-on.html
- https://visiontv.co.uk/channel/good-news-tv
- https://visiontv.co.uk/channel/supreme-master-tv
- "How to watch – That's TV".
- https://www.tjc.co.uk
- https://visiontv.co.uk/channel/uk44
- "Vision247 launches UK app on iOS and Android". 10 November 2015.
- "Freeview's 100 hidden channels > RXTV info". 18 October 2022.
- https://www.hellenictv.net/
- https://visiontv.co.uk/channel/spotlight-tv
- http://spotlighttv.co.uk
- Woods, Ben (23 August 2021). "How China's propaganda station CGTN made a surprise return to British screens". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- "Vision247 Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- "Vision247 Limited: Financial Statements". Companies House. 31 December 2019. p. 6.