bTV Action

bTV Action is a Bulgarian television channel within the bTV Media Group portfolio. Its programming is oriented toward male audiences and combines live and recorded sports, current-affairs formats, investigative programming, crime-related shows, action films and other entertainment. The channel operates alongside bTV, bTV Comedy, bTV Cinema, bTV Story and the sports channel RING, giving the group a portfolio that spans general entertainment, film, sports and specialist television. The service developed from a chain of earlier Bulgarian channels rather than launching as an entirely new television operation. Its lineage traces to TOP TV, which began in 1998 as a Bulgarian terrestrial television channel and ceased broadcasting in 2004. After a change of ownership in 2005, the operation resumed as CTN in 2006. It was acquired again and renamed TV2 in 2007. Central European Media Enterprises acquired TV2 together with Ring TV in 2008, and the channel was relaunched as PRO.BG in 2009. In 2010, following CME's acquisition of the bTV Media Group portfolio, PRO.BG was rebranded as bTV Action. The new name aligned the channel with the bTV family while preserving its more action-oriented and sports-focused identity. During the PRO.BG period, the service was distributed through analogue terrestrial transmission in 27 of Bulgaria's largest cities and towns, reaching more than 70 percent of the country's population according to the referenced historical account. Terrestrial transmission ended on 1 December 2010. Under the bTV Action brand, the channel became available through cable and satellite distribution from 22 January 2011. The channel subsequently adopted a 16:9 picture format on 7 October 2012 and participated in the launch of an HD multiplex. Sports rights and sports presentation have been important to the channel's identity. bTV Action and RING have carried UEFA Champions League coverage, while UEFA Europa League programming has been shared with RING and BNT 1. The channel has also been associated with Italian football, the men's European Volleyball Championship and Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters qualifying sessions and races. In 2013, it aired the UEFA Champions League final in 3D, described in the source material as the first 3D broadcast on Bulgarian television. Sports commentary and analysis have also appeared through formats such as Sport Zone. The channel's non-sports schedule has included live and discussion-based programming. Code: Criminal was described as a weekday live crime program, while The Hounds used investigative reports, commentary, discussions and social experiments. The channel also carried the sports discussion program Sport Zone. A Sunday commentary program, 24/7, was broadcast from October 2011 to July 2012 before its presenter moved to a program on the main bTV channel. These formats illustrate bTV Action's positioning between factual television, current affairs, sports and action entertainment rather than as a narrowly defined sports-only service. bTV Action's role in the group is therefore that of a thematic Bulgarian television brand with a strong sports and factual-programming profile. Its identity is supported by shared rights, technical distribution and cross-promotion within the bTV Media Group, while its schedule remains differentiated from the general-interest bTV channel and the group’s dedicated sports, film and comedy services.

The channel's history begins with TOP TV, launched in 1998 as a Bulgarian terrestrial television service. TOP TV expanded its coverage but ceased operations in 2004. After the operating company was acquired in 2005, the service returned in 2006 under the CTN name. A further acquisition in 2007 led to the TV2 brand. Central European Media Enterprises acquired TV2 together with Ring TV in 2008. TV2 was relaunched as PRO.BG in 2009. The naming was associated with CME's regional television strategy and its ownership of PRO TV in Romania. In 2010, after CME acquired the bTV Media Group portfolio, PRO.BG was renamed bTV Action. The rebrand placed the channel within the bTV family while retaining a schedule centered on sport, current affairs, action films and factual programming. The predecessor service had used analogue terrestrial transmission in 27 major Bulgarian cities and towns, reportedly reaching over 70 percent of the population. That terrestrial service ended on 1 December 2010. bTV Action began cable and satellite distribution on 22 January 2011. The channel later adopted a 16:9 image format on 7 October 2012 and was included in an HD multiplex. Programming has combined sports rights with studio analysis and factual entertainment. Together with RING, bTV Action has carried UEFA Champions League matches. UEFA Europa League coverage has been shared with RING and BNT 1. Other sports associated with the channel include Italian Serie A, the men's European Volleyball Championship and Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters qualifying and race coverage. In 2013, the channel broadcast the UEFA Champions League final in 3D. Its factual and discussion programming has included Code: Criminal, a weekday live crime program; The Hounds, an investigative format involving reports, discussion and social experiments; and Sport Zone, a sports commentary program that originally appeared on bTV before moving to bTV Action. The channel also broadcast 24/7, a Sunday commentary program hosted by Dimitar Tsonev, from October 2011 through July 2012. Overall, bTV Action developed as a Bulgarian thematic channel whose principal distinction is the combination of sports, factual programming and action-oriented entertainment within the broader bTV Media Group.

• 2013

  First reported Bulgarian 3D television broadcast

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  bTV Action airs the UEFA Champions League final in 3D.

• 2012

  16:9 and HD developments

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The channel changes to a 16:9 picture format and participates in an HD multiplex launch.

• 2011

  Cable and satellite distribution begins

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  bTV Action becomes available through cable and satellite transmission from 22 January.

• 2010

  PRO.BG becomes bTV Action

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The channel is renamed after CME acquires the bTV Media Group portfolio.

• 2009

  TV2 is relaunched as PRO.BG

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The channel adopts the PRO.BG brand under CME ownership.

• 2008

  CME acquires TV2 and Ring TV

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Central European Media Enterprises acquires the TV2 operation together with sports channel Ring TV.

• 2007

  CTN becomes TV2

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  A further acquisition leads to a rebranding as TV2.

• 2006

  The service returns as CTN

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Following an acquisition in 2005, the television operation resumes under the CTN name.

• 2004

  TOP TV ceases broadcasting

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The original TOP TV service is shut down after expanding its coverage.

• 1998

  TOP TV launches

  [1]BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The channel's historical predecessor begins broadcasting as a Bulgarian terrestrial television service.

A Bulgarian thematic television channel combining sports rights, live commentary, current affairs, investigative programming, crime formats and action-oriented entertainment for a predominantly male audience.

• Television channel · 2010

  bTV Action television channel

  The core offering is a Bulgarian thematic television channel with a male-oriented editorial profile. Its schedule combines sports broadcasts, sports analysis, current-affairs programming, investigative formats, crime shows, action films and related entertainment. The service is distributed through cable and satellite platforms and has supported 16:9 and HD presentation.

• Live sports and sports commentary

  Sports programming

  bTV Action's sports offering has included UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League coverage, Italian Serie A, the men's European Volleyball Championship and Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters programming. Coverage is shared or coordinated with RING and, for selected football competitions, BNT 1. Studio analysis and commentary complement the live-event schedule.

• Crime and current-affairs program

  Code: Criminal

  A weekday live program focused on crime-related news and discussion. The referenced historical description places its broadcast on Monday through Friday in an evening slot.

• Investigative television program

  The Hounds

  An investigative and discussion format built around reports, commentary, social experiments and topical debate. It was described as a weekend evening program.

• Sports commentary program

  Sport Zone

  A sports discussion and commentary show that initially aired on the main bTV channel before moving to bTV Action. The program broadened the channel's sports identity beyond live-event rights.

• 2012

  Technical upgrade to 16:9 and HD distributionProduct launch

  Background

  The channel was modernizing its technical presentation and distribution after moving from the terrestrial model associated with its predecessor.

  Action taken

  bTV Action adopted a 16:9 picture format and was included in an HD multiplex.

  Aftermath

  The upgrade supported widescreen and high-definition viewing for the channel's sports and entertainment programming.

  Source

• 2010

  Rebranding from PRO.BG to bTV ActionGeneration change

  Background

  CME's acquisition of the bTV Media Group portfolio created an opportunity to align the existing PRO.BG service with the group's Bulgarian brand architecture.

  Action taken

  The channel was renamed bTV Action and positioned alongside the group's general-interest, comedy, cinema and sports services.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand established the channel as a thematic bTV service focused on sports, factual programming and action-oriented entertainment.

  Source

1. 1BTV Actionen.wikipedia.org