Open Access (UK television)
Encyclopedia
Open Access, Open Access 2 and Open Access 3 were a set of television channels based in the United Kingdom
and broadcast on the Sky Digital
satellite platform. They broadcast old films and also seek to broadcast new work from small independent producers.
OFCOM
listed the licences for Open Access and Open Access 2 as registered to Open Access Group Limited, while the licence for Open Access 3 was registered to Trace TV (UK) Limited. However both companies had the same address in Hoxton Square
, London.
The company structure is quite complicated, although not unusually so. The formal registered address of all the companies is that of a firm of chartered accountants in Friern Barnet
, north London, however, as is common, this is not the operating address but the address of representatives who handle accounting and legal matters. Documents available through the companies' associated websites state that Open Access is a trading name of Definition Broadcast Limited. Definition Broadcast is a company providing various technical services for digital television broadcasting and has an address in Regent Street
, central London. However the address of the registered contacts for the firm's internet domain "definition.tv" is the same Hoxton Square address as that of the Open Access companies.
The main content on the Open Access channels were old films, broadcast under the Hollywood Classics Network brand, which appeared to be a separate operation with a postal address in Brixworth
, Northamptonshire
. Another brand is Open View, which was described as a "rolling film competition available to all film makers and media artists". Applicants were charged a fee of £50 to enter their work into the scheme and have it broadcast.
From February 2010, Open Access 3 broadcast live coverage of the NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series.
Open Access closed on 3 December 2009, after its Sky EPG slot of channel 883 was purchased by Renault TV. Open Access 2 closed on 21 September 2010 after its Sky EPG slot of channel 189 was purchased by Information TV
for Information TV +1. Finally, Open Access 3 closed on 4 April 2011 after its Sky EPG slot of channel 190 was purchased by Sony Pictures Television
for Sony Entertainment Television
.
Between 17 December 2007 and 1 September 2010 the Open Access Group also operated OMusic TV
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and broadcast on the Sky Digital
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
satellite platform. They broadcast old films and also seek to broadcast new work from small independent producers.
OFCOM
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
listed the licences for Open Access and Open Access 2 as registered to Open Access Group Limited, while the licence for Open Access 3 was registered to Trace TV (UK) Limited. However both companies had the same address in Hoxton Square
Hoxton Square
Hoxton Square is a garden square situated in Hoxton in the London Borough of Hackney, in London's East End. Formerly home to industrial premises, since the 1990s it has become the heart of the Hoxton arts and media scene, as well as being a hub of the thriving local entertainment district...
, London.
The company structure is quite complicated, although not unusually so. The formal registered address of all the companies is that of a firm of chartered accountants in Friern Barnet
Friern Barnet
Friern Barnet is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburban development situated north of Charing Cross. The centre of Friern Barnet is formed by the busy intersection of Colney Hatch Lane , Woodhouse Road and Friern Barnet Road .-History:Friern Barnet was an...
, north London, however, as is common, this is not the operating address but the address of representatives who handle accounting and legal matters. Documents available through the companies' associated websites state that Open Access is a trading name of Definition Broadcast Limited. Definition Broadcast is a company providing various technical services for digital television broadcasting and has an address in Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
, central London. However the address of the registered contacts for the firm's internet domain "definition.tv" is the same Hoxton Square address as that of the Open Access companies.
The main content on the Open Access channels were old films, broadcast under the Hollywood Classics Network brand, which appeared to be a separate operation with a postal address in Brixworth
Brixworth
Brixworth is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a parish population of 5,162. The village is particularly notable for All Saints' Church, Brixworth, its historic Anglo-Saxon church....
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. Another brand is Open View, which was described as a "rolling film competition available to all film makers and media artists". Applicants were charged a fee of £50 to enter their work into the scheme and have it broadcast.
From February 2010, Open Access 3 broadcast live coverage of the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series.
Open Access closed on 3 December 2009, after its Sky EPG slot of channel 883 was purchased by Renault TV. Open Access 2 closed on 21 September 2010 after its Sky EPG slot of channel 189 was purchased by Information TV
Information TV
Information TV is a television organisation which broadcasts three free-to-air channels on Sky and Freesat in the United Kingdom.-History:Information TV came into existence in April 2003, and received its ITC licence in November 2003. It began broadcasting at 10am on Monday, 19 January 2004 on Sky...
for Information TV +1. Finally, Open Access 3 closed on 4 April 2011 after its Sky EPG slot of channel 190 was purchased by Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
for Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Entertainment Television (UK & Ireland)
Sony Entertainment Television is a general entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland from Sony Pictures Television , which launched on 7 April 2011.-History:...
.
Between 17 December 2007 and 1 September 2010 the Open Access Group also operated OMusic TV
OMusic TV
oMusic TV was a British music television channel. It replaced Classic FM TV on 17 December 2007. It was a classical/chill out music channel, and was available free-to-air on satellite...
.