Arena (TV network)

Arena is an Australian general entertainment cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar, and Optus Television's subscription platforms.

History

In the late 1990s, Arena had the slogan "The Art of Television". It ran a mix of programs, including UK serial Coronation Street, and cult horror and science fictions films presented by Tabitha Clutterbuck. This included programs from E! prior to the launch of E! in Australia.

On 1 March 2001 it relaunched, with an added focus on talk shows and celebrity.

On 31 July 2005, its look was again updated, with a new logo and the new slogan, "Great TV Any time".

It was owned and operated by XYZnetworks until 1 October 2007 when management and programming were taken over by Foxtel, with XYZ Networks still retaining ownership.

In April 2008, Foxtel announced a partnership with Universal Networks International, where Arena would be re-branded as an Australian version of the American channel Bravo—featuring original series from the network, and adopting a variation of Bravo's branding and slogan, whilst retaining the previous Arena name.