FX (2005–2013)
The channel was rebranded as FX as it moved in the Sky EPG on 21 April 2005.[3][4] As FX, the channel targeted a demographic of mainly males.[4] Unlike its American counterpart, it promoted and aired both Fox-produced and non-Fox-produced shows. It had a similar format to its American sister channel, with a schedule consisting largely of Fox-produced shows, including comedies such as Arrested Development, Family Guy,[5] American Dad! and King of the Hill, and dramas such as Millennium, The Shield, The X-Files, and NYPD Blue. Non-Fox-produced shows rerun or receiving their UK premiere on the channel include The Walking Dead,[5] Falling Skies,[5] Babylon 5, Carnivàle, Highlander, JAG,[5] NCIS,[5] Sleeper Cell, E-Ring and Huff, Nip/Tuck, Generation Kill, True Blood,[5] Mob City and Dexter.[5] The channel also produced original content such as the sketch show No Signal![6]
On 12 September 2005, a two-hour timeshift service - FX +, was launched on Sky Digital.[7] This was followed up with the launch of FX +1 two years later on 10 December 2007.[8] However, the launch of that network led to some confusion as FX + had not been changed to reflect this, leading to two networks having similar names (FX +, FX +1) and viewers assuming a mistake or a double-over of the channel.[9] FX +1 was deemed to be a "filler" network, being launched by Fox to hold up the space for another network.
On 8 April 2008, it was announced that FX HD would launch on 21 April, replacing FX +1. The channel ran from 7:00pm-2:00am, and broadcast as a commercial-free service broadcasting entirely separate schedule from the SD feed, only broadcasting programmes originally made in high-definition.[10] The channel's launch was delayed by a week to the 28th, due to "technical problems at the transmission end", and launched at 10:00pm on that day.[11] On 1 September 2008, FX + became a one-hour timeshift service.
On 24 April 2009, FX HD became a simulcast of FX, broadcasting HD content when possible but only broadcasting between 7:00pm and 2:00am every day. The channel also joined Virgin Media's digital cable TV lineup on channel 158 on 30 July 2009.[12]
On 5 January 2010, FX HD increased its broadcast hours to match its SD counterpart.
