Soho was an Australian pay-television channel focused primarily on drama series from 2012 until its closure in 2016.
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Overview
Soho was an Australian subscription television channel that evolved through several identities and programming strategies before becoming a drama-focused service. Its history began in 1995, when the channel launched in Australia under the name fX, using a format centered on classic television programming often promoted as the “Golden Years of Television.” Unlike the better-known international FX brand positioning, the Australian service later moved toward a female-oriented audience. The channel became FX in the late 1990s and was available on Austar from April 1999. By late 2000, its positioning had shifted further toward women’s programming, with the service described as Australia’s first television channel specifically for women. On 1 November 2003, it was relaunched as W., shortly before the expansion of digital broadcasting. The W. identity supported a broader schedule combining locally produced programs, imported entertainment, and acquired American drama. Its Australian programming included Beauty and the Beast, Love My Way, From Here to Maternity, and Studio A with Simon Burke. The channel also carried pay-television rights to programs such as Pushing Daisies and The Wire. W. developed a recognizable public profile through Antonia Kidman, who served for a period as the channel’s on-screen face and presented parenting and entertainment programming associated with the service. A two-hour timeshift service, W2, launched in September 2006, and the channel also introduced a website around the same time. In April 2009, W. received a visual and schedule refresh, including a simplified W logo and changes to its primetime line-up. W HD launched on 15 November 2009 on both Austar and Foxtel, extending the brand into high-definition subscription television. The final major repositioning came in 2012, when W. was rebranded as SoHo. The new identity moved away from the earlier women’s-channel emphasis and adopted a stronger focus on scripted drama. The channel became associated with Australian and international prestige television, including the Australian drama Wentworth, a reimagining of Prisoner that began airing on SoHo in 2013. Other programming associated with the SoHo period included Spirited and A Place to Call Home, alongside acquired drama series. Soho ceased operating in 2016. Sources identify the closure as occurring on 30 September or 4 October 2016, reflecting the transition of the service and the movement of its existing programming. Most programs were transferred to Showcase, while selected titles moved to TV H!, Arena, and FOX8. The channel was ultimately replaced by Binge, marking the end of the Soho brand as a linear Australian pay-television service.
History
Soho originated as fX in 1995, when it launched in Australia as a Foxtel pay-television service carrying classic television programs. The channel’s early identity emphasized older and established television content. In the late 1990s, the name was rendered as FX, and the service began moving toward a female audience, carrying programs such as The View and Donny and Marie. It expanded to Austar in April 1999. By late 2000, the service had been repositioned as a channel for women. On 1 November 2003, it was relaunched as W., a new identity introduced shortly before the expansion of digital television. W. combined original Australian programming with imported and repeated international series. Its locally associated programming included Beauty and the Beast, Love My Way, From Here to Maternity, and Studio A with Simon Burke. It also held Australian pay-television rights to American series including Pushing Daisies and The Wire. The W. brand developed supporting services and a broader public presence. Antonia Kidman was used as an on-screen face of the channel for a period and presented parenting and entertainment programs. W2, a two-hour timeshift channel, launched in September 2006, alongside a website for the service. In April 2009, W. received a brand and schedule update, including a revised logo and new primetime programming. W HD launched on 15 November 2009 on Foxtel and Austar. In 2012, the channel was renamed SoHo and redirected toward drama television. This repositioning was illustrated by the acquisition of Wentworth, an Australian reworking of Prisoner, which premiered on the channel in 2013. SoHo also carried or became associated with programs such as Spirited and A Place to Call Home, in addition to acquired drama series. The channel closed in 2016. Available accounts place the shutdown on 30 September or 4 October, during a transition in which existing programs were redistributed. Most moved to Showcase, while some titles went to TV H!, Arena, and FOX8. Binge subsequently replaced the channel, ending the SoHo linear television brand in Australia.
- 2016
Channel closure
[1]SoHo ceased broadcasting during the transition from late September to early October, with programming redistributed and Binge taking its place.
- 2013
Wentworth premiered on SoHo
[1]Wentworth began airing on SoHo as a major Australian drama offering.
- 2012
Rebrand as SoHo
[1]The service adopted the SoHo name and shifted its core focus to drama series.
- 2009
W brand refresh and HD launch
[1]W. received a brand and schedule refresh in April, followed by the launch of W HD on 15 November.
- 2006
W2 timeshift service launched
[1]A two-hour timeshift channel called W2 launched in September, alongside a channel website.
- 2003
Relaunch as W.
[1]The channel was relaunched under the W. identity on 1 November 2003.
- 2000
Female-audience positioning
[1]FX was repositioned as a television service aimed at women.
- 1999
Expansion to Austar
[1]The channel became available on Austar in April 1999.
- 1995
Launch as fX
[1]The service launched in Australia as fX, initially focusing on classic television programming.
Products and positioning
A premium Australian pay-television channel whose positioning developed from classic television and women’s programming into a dedicated drama service.
Pay television channel · 2012
SoHo
The principal SoHo service was an Australian subscription television channel launched under that name in 2012. It concentrated on scripted drama, combining Australian productions with acquired international series. Its schedule included Wentworth, Spirited, and A Place to Call Home, as well as other drama programming. The service ended in 2016.
Pay television channel · 2003
W
W was the channel identity used from 2003 until the 2012 transition to SoHo. It targeted women and carried a mixture of Australian original programs, American primetime dramas, entertainment shows, and repeats. The W brand was later refreshed and extended through a timeshift service and an HD feed.
Timeshift television channel · 2006
W2
W2 was a companion service launched in September 2006 that broadcast the W schedule two hours later. It supported the main channel’s subscription television distribution before the subsequent SoHo rebrand.
High-definition television feed · 2009
W HD
W HD was the high-definition version of the W channel. It launched on 15 November 2009 through Austar and Foxtel, extending the service’s programming into high-definition subscription television.
Brand decisions
2016
Closure and programming redistributionOtherBackground
The linear channel was discontinued as its operator reorganized the distribution of existing programming and introduced a replacement service.
Action taken
SoHo was closed around the end of September or beginning of October, with most programs transferred to Showcase and selected titles moved to TV H!, Arena, and FOX8.
Aftermath
Binge replaced the channel, ending the SoHo brand as an operating Australian pay-television channel.
2012
Repositioning as SoHoStrategyBackground
The operator shifted the service away from its earlier women’s-channel positioning and toward a stronger scripted-drama proposition.
Action taken
W. was rebranded as SoHo on 20 August 2012 and adopted drama television as its central programming focus.
Aftermath
The new brand became associated with Australian drama titles including Wentworth and continued until the channel closed in 2016.
2003
Relaunch from FX as W.StrategyBackground
The service had progressively moved from classic programming toward a female-oriented audience and required a new identity before the expansion of digital broadcasting.
Action taken
The channel was relaunched as W. on 1 November 2003, with a schedule combining women’s programming, Australian productions, and acquired drama.
Aftermath
W. became the channel’s principal identity until its later transformation into SoHo.
Sources1 sources
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