The channel first launched on December 9, 1980, as Escapade by Rainbow Programing Services (a joint-venture of four cable companies, led by Cablevision). At launch, Escapade aired mostly R ratedB movies. The channel aired five nights a week from 9 PM to 4 or 6 AM, Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday and Monday nights were reserved for Rainbow's other new channel Bravo. The satellite time the two networks used was subleased from National Christian Network.[1] By July 1981, the service expanded to seven nights a week.[2]
In August 1981, Playboy Enterprises became half-owner of Escapade and announced a plan to produce original programming that reflected the contents of Playboy magazine beginning in early 1982.[3] On January 21, 1982, the Playboy Channel on Escapade debuted as a four-hour programming block. The first program was an interview with John and Bo Derek, followed by footage of January playmateShannon Tweed, the West German adult movie Vanessa, and a magazine features including "Ribald Classics".[4][5][6][7] Over the months that followed, Escapade would gradually increased the amount of Playboy programming.
The channel officially relaunched as the Playboy Channel on November 18, 1982.[8] The original programming and style of the Playboy Channel was developed by Hugh Hefner, and producer Michael Trikilis. Playboy hired its own sales and marketing staff and launched the channel on several major multiple system operators. At the time of its launch, programming featured on the channel consisted of R-rated films. It was broadcast for only ten hours each day, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, during its first eleven years of existence. In October 1983, Rainbow Media exited the partnership by selling its share to Playboy, but would continue to distribute the channel until 1986.[9] The channel re-launched as Playboy TV and adopted its current name on November 1, 1989. The network expanded its programming with the adoption of a 24-hour schedule in 1994.
In 2008, the channel launched its HD simulcast feed under the name "Playboy TV HD".
Programming
Playboy TV was originally developed as a video version of Playboy Magazine. Programming featured music reviews, celebrity interviews, men's fashion and segments on cars. It was a video extension of the magazine - an established lifestyle brand. Slowly the programming on the channel evolved to feature more attractive women and eventually soft core features. This then evolved to what would become more standard television programming with a focus primarily on a male demographic.
In 2010, Playboy TV unveiled a new program slate,[10] which featured series tailored to both male and female viewers.[11]
1 Indicates the channel is still in existence, but currently operates as a basic cable channel. 2 Star Channel was part of Warner Communications' QUBE interactive cable service, and was the precursor to present-day The Movie Channel.
