Advertise on UKTV — Dave, Yesterday, Drama & More

Reach millions of UK viewers through UKTV’s network of entertainment, factual, and lifestyle channels. Discover ad costs, targeting options, and campaign strategies.

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Why Advertise on UKTV?

UKTV is one of the UK’s biggest commercial broadcasters, reaching millions of viewers every month through a portfolio of distinctive, genre-led channels. From bold comedy and witty entertainment on Dave, to gripping crime drama on Alibi, nostalgic favourites on Gold, and factual storytelling on Yesterday, UKTV offers advertisers both scale and precision targeting.

Whether your goal is brand awareness, product launches, or direct response, UKTV’s carefully curated channel lineup allows your campaign to connect with the right viewers in trusted, high-quality programming environments.

Key Benefits of Advertising on UKTV:

  • Multi-channel reach across entertainment, comedy, drama, and factual programming.

  • Loyal, repeat-viewing audiences who actively engage with content.

  • Strong, trusted channel brands with clear audience profiles.

  • Opportunities to align your brand with high-quality, appointment-to-view content.

  • 100% brand-safe environments with high viewer trust.

With The TV Agency, you get expert media planning, creative development, and campaign delivery. Ensuring your ads run in the most effective slots, on the right UKTV channels, to maximise ROI.

Advertise Across the UKTV Channel Line-Up

Dave — Bold, Witty, and Male-Skewed

Target Audience: Men 16–44, ABC1, humour-seeking

Dave is UKTV’s flagship entertainment channel, known for its witty, irreverent tone and mix of original commissions, panel shows, and stand-up specials. With long-running hits like Taskmaster, QI XL, and Would I Lie to You?, it has a loyal following that engages with both appointment-to-view and repeat programming. The humour-driven content makes it perfect for brands looking to inject personality and connect with an audience that values entertainment with intelligence.

Ideal For: Technology and gadgets, food & drink brands, gaming, automotive, lifestyle products targeting younger male viewers.

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Yesterday — History, Knowledge & Documentary Lovers

Target Audience: Adults 45+, ABC1, history and culture enthusiasts

Yesterday offers a deep dive into factual and historical content, from The World at War to engineering-based series like Abandoned Engineering. Its audience is engaged and spends long viewing sessions exploring history, science, archaeology, and heritage. This affinity for detailed, educational storytelling provides brands with an attentive, information-hungry demographic.

Ideal For: Heritage and cultural brands, tourism boards, education providers, museums, history-related consumer goods.

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Drama — Scripted Storytelling Fans

Target Audience: Adults 35+, ABC1 women

Drama showcases a curated selection of British and international scripted series, including classics like Call the Midwife and Father Brown, alongside popular imports. Its audience values narrative depth, character-driven plots, and emotional engagement. Extended series runs encourage repeated tune-in, giving brands multiple exposure opportunities.

Ideal For: Home and lifestyle brands, retail, FMCG, publishing, brands seeking an emotional connection with audiences.

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Gold — Classic British Comedy

Target Audience: Adults 45+, comedy lovers, multi-generational households

Gold celebrates the best of British comedy, from timeless sitcoms like Only Fools and Horses to stand-up specials and sketch shows. Its nostalgic programming unites families and spans generations, offering a warm, familiar environment for advertisers.

Ideal For: Multi-generational campaigns, leisure and hospitality brands, heritage consumer goods, entertainment, and family-focused products.

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Alibi — Premium Crime Drama

Target Audience: ABC1 women 35+

Alibi is the home of gripping UK and international crime drama, with series like Murdoch Mysteries and Miss Scarlet and the Duke. The channel’s focus on suspenseful storytelling and high production values attracts a discerning audience who appreciates sophistication and detail.

Ideal For: Premium consumer goods, publishing, entertainment products, home décor, and lifestyle brands.

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W — Lifestyle & Entertainment for Modern Women

Target Audience: ABC1 women 25–54

W delivers a vibrant mix of lifestyle formats, reality series, and original UK commissions such as Inside the Ambulance and Emma Willis: Delivering Babies. The channel appeals to socially active, brand-conscious women who enjoy aspirational yet relatable content.

Ideal For: Fashion and beauty brands, travel, wellness, premium food & drink, and aspirational consumer goods.

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Want to Advertise on U (formerly UKTV Play)?

We are uniquely positioned to help you advertise on U through our dedicated Connected TV (CTV) sister brand, The Video Ad Agency, where we specialise in delivering smart, efficient campaigns with dynamic creative strategies.

Target Audience: Broad demographic reach, varying by channel — from young comedy fans on U&Dave to heritage enthusiasts on U&Yesterday.

UKTV Play is the on-demand home for all of UKTV’s channels, allowing viewers to watch their favourite shows anytime via smart TVs, mobile, tablet, and desktop. This platform brings together hit content from Taskmaster (U&Dave), Call the Midwife (U&Drama), Abandoned Engineering (U&Yesterday), and many more.

With Connected TV advertising, brands can combine the premium environment of TV with the precision of digital. Campaigns can be targeted by age, gender, location (postcode-level), interests, and even programme genres. Ensuring your message reaches the most relevant viewers.

Ideal For: Brands looking to pair traditional TV reach with data-driven targeting, including direct-to-consumer products, e-commerce, finance, entertainment, travel, and lifestyle sectors.

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Why Should You Choose The TV Agency to Advertise on UKTV?

Strategic Multi-Channel Campaign Planning

We create tailored advertising strategies using the most relevant UKTV channels for your audience. Whether targeting broad demographics or niche interests, we use national and contextual targeting to reach the right viewers at the right time.

Expert Media Buying

Our direct relationships with UKTV allow us to secure premium ad slots around high-performing shows. We leverage expert knowledge to optimise placements for maximum audience impact, ensuring your investment delivers exceptional value.

Creative Production

From concept to broadcast, we offer full-service ad production tailored to each channel’s distinct audience profile. Our creative team ensures your advert resonates with viewers, while meeting UKTV’s broadcast standards.

Cross-Platform Integration

We create campaigns that span both UKTV’s linear channels and its on-demand service, U (formerly UKTV Play). This integrated approach boosts reach and frequency, engaging audiences across multiple viewing platforms.

Detailed Performance Reporting

We provide transparent reporting with in-depth analytics, including reach, frequency, and uplift tracking. Our insights allow you to measure success clearly and refine strategies for ongoing improvement.

Long-Term Brand Building

Beyond immediate results, we develop strategies that build brand awareness, loyalty, and engagement over time, ensuring your presence on UKTV translates into sustained business growth.

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“I learned more in 5 minutes chatting with Anthony than I had done with my previous agency over 6 months!”

Advertise on alternative platforms

If UKTV doesn't sound like the right choice for your business then check out these alternatives:

C4 Logo

Advertise on Channel 4

Sky news logo

Advertise on Sky News

Advertise on Sky Sports

ITV logo

Advertise on ITV

Want to advertise somewhere else not listed above?

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FAQs:

  • How much does it cost to advertise on UKTV?

    The cost of advertising on UKTV depends on factors such as channel choice, time of day, audience size, campaign length, and programme popularity. Channels like Dave, Drama, and Yesterday can be highly cost-effective compared to other networks. We provide clear cost breakdowns and can work with most budgets, from small test campaigns to large-scale national TV buys.

  • How far in advance should I book UKTV advertising?

    We recommend booking your UKTV campaign 4–6 weeks in advance to secure the best slots and allow for strategic planning. For premium programme placements, such as hit shows on Dave or popular dramas, it’s worth booking earlier to guarantee availability.

  • How far in advance should I plan my ITV campaign?

    We recommend 4-6 weeks advance booking for optimal slot availability and strategic planning. Premium programme placements around shows like Coronation Street or Love Island require earlier booking.

  • Do I need a finished TV advert before booking UKTV airtime?

    Not at all. We can create your UKTV advert from scratch using our in-house animation and production studio, or adapt existing video assets for broadcast. We’ll ensure your ad meets all UKTV technical and clearance requirements.

  • How do you measure the success of a UKTV campaign?

    We measure success using a mix of traditional TV metrics (reach, frequency, demographic delivery) and digital attribution tools. These include website traffic tracking, call volume analysis, and conversion correlation. We can also use IP tracking to link ad exposure to online behaviour.

  • How quickly will I see results from UKTV advertising?

    You can expect to see results immediately after your ads air, with website traffic and enquiries often spiking in real time. Brand awareness and purchase intent continue to build over the course of the campaign and after it ends.

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