Forces TV, Rewind TV and That's TV

[OceanBlue]

Starting a thread for UK TV channel Forces TV. I didn't find out about them until earlier on last year, when I read on their Facebook page that they would be doing a repeat run of late eighties to early nineties detective drama series Midnight Caller. The channel show a mixture of American and UK series (they've started showing this week a Brian Conley sitcom called Time After Time).

Below is the website address link for the channel:

https://www.forces.net/forces-tv

[cutback73]

Thanks @OceanBlue for setting up this thread.

I'm not sure how long the channel has been running, however I first became aware of it when hunting through the listings in 2019 for something to watch and seeing The Equaliser being shown (my favourite drama of all time which starred Edward Woodward who was voted sexiest man alive by US viewers during the run at the age of ?57ish [hope for me yet )

Bit by bit, the channel seemed to work through many hit 1980s drama and scifi shows including the above, Miami Vice, the original V, Quantum Leap and others.

They also have been working through a long list of 1980s and 1990s sitcoms from BBC and ITV. Surgical Spirit and Time After Time being the latest. I've enjoyed rewatching some including May to December, On The Up (just the one Mrs Wembley!).

The run of Midnight Caller last year was the first UK broadcast in entirety (apart from the pilot) in 30+ years.

The next show starting this weekend is Spenser for Hire, another show not broadcast over here in 30+ years, starring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks (long before Star Trek Deep Space 9).

They have also been broadcasting 70s sci fi shows including the short lived Man From Atlantis and The Omega Factor, UFO and are in the early stages of rerunning Blake's 7. Confirmed!

The channel seems to have found a niche in "cult" drama and sci fi that isn't generally shown elsewhere. And some which is not available on dvd in the UK unless importing.

Although their website only lists schedules for that week, the Virgin guide always shows the next 2 weeks.

Most shows are broadcast twice a day during the week and repeated at weekends.

Broadcast quality varies, but with the nature of the programming, many shows are video copies. And the sets still wobble on Blake's 7...

[OceanBlue]

Have set the feature-length pilot of Spenser: for Hire to record next Saturday night (although it's first being shown on late Saturday morning, followed by the first two episodes). The first two episodes after the pilot are being shown again on Saturday night, with the next two or three episodes on Sunday.

If the picture quality on Forces TV's repeats is the same as on the Warner Archive Collection's DVD release of the first season, then they will have an 'edited on film' look, compared to Midnight Caller which was definitely 'edited on video' in it's first season (have only got as far as the first handful of episodes in it's second season).

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Have set the feature-length pilot of Spenser: for Hire to record next Saturday night (although it's first being shown on late Saturday morning, followed by the first two episodes). The first two episodes after the pilot are being shown again on Saturday night, with the next two or three episodes on Sunday.

If the picture quality on Forces TV's repeats is the same as on the Warner Archive Collection's DVD release of the first season, then they will have an 'edited on film' look, compared to Midnight Caller which was definitely 'edited on video' in it's first season (have only got as far as the first handful of episodes in it's second season).

Having watched this weekend's episodes, the version of Spenser being transmitted has clearly been edited on film. Having been to Boston in 2015, I've been location spotting quite a bit. Have spotted the concrete boxes at the edge of the common, one of which I walked straight into while I was looking at the common itself

You can quite often identify the filming location from where the high rise office blocks are on screen (as they are located downtown and stick out like a sore thumb (much like they do in LA downtown)

[Steedeel]

I got excited for a minute thinking Forces tv was a channel full of army docs and shows.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

Having watched this weekend's episodes, the version of Spenser being transmitted has clearly been edited on film. Having been to Boston in 2015, I've been location spotting quite a bit. Have spotted the concrete boxes at the edge of the common, one of which I walked straight into while I was looking at the common itself

You can quite often identify the filming location from where the high rise office blocks are on screen (as they are located downtown and stick out like a sore thumb (much like they do in LA downtown)

I didn't end up recording last Saturday's airing of the feature-length pilot of Spenser: for Hire, but I caught some of an airing of another episode last night. And I agree, they're clearly edited on film masters which have been provided to Forces TV.

I'm hoping the channel will be repeating Harry O, as it fits with what they've shown already. I'd also like them to show another Warner Brothers-owned series, Then Came Bronson (it was a one season-only series, preceded by a feature-length pilot (the pilot was I think also released internationally in cinemas).

[OceanBlue]

Forces TV posted on their Facebook page yesterday, that from this coming Sunday night they're starting a repeat run of a mid-nineties comedy series whose cast includes Roy Barraclough and Dora Bryan, called Mother's Ruin (six episodes in total).

[OceanBlue]

Starting on Forces TV this coming Saturday evening/night is a repeat run of a UK sitcom which starred Richard O'Sullivan, called Trouble in Mind.

Source: Sky's TV listings and Forces TV's Facebook page.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I got excited for a minute thinking Forces tv was a channel full of army docs and shows.

Earlier this week, the channel posted a banner strongly hinting at them starting soon a repeat run of some episodes of the original Doctor Who TV series.

Earlier today I think, they posted a couple of picture clues hinting at two shows they'll be repeating soon. The picture on the right, I think is for sitcom Dear John. The one on the left though, I'm guessing at either Twin Peaks or Northern Exposure (it looks like a moose's head on a wall).

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Earlier this week, the channel posted a banner strongly hinting at them starting soon a repeat run of some episodes of the original Doctor Who TV series.

Earlier today I think, they posted a couple of picture clues hinting at two shows they'll be repeating soon. The picture on the right, I think is for sitcom Dear John. The one on the left though, I'm guessing at either Twin Peaks or Northern Exposure (it looks like a moose's head on a wall).

Interesting. Hope it’s the Tom Baker era.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

Having watched this weekend's episodes, the version of Spenser being transmitted has clearly been edited on film. Having been to Boston in 2015, I've been location spotting quite a bit. Have spotted the concrete boxes at the edge of the common, one of which I walked straight into while I was looking at the common itself

You can quite often identify the filming location from where the high rise office blocks are on screen (as they are located downtown and stick out like a sore thumb (much like they do in LA downtown)

Have checked the listings for next Friday night, and after the episode being shown that night (called "At the River's Edge"), Forces TV should start showing the second season the week after next.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Earlier this week, the channel posted a banner strongly hinting at them starting soon a repeat run of some episodes of the original Doctor Who TV series.

Earlier today I think, they posted a couple of picture clues hinting at two shows they'll be repeating soon. The picture on the right, I think is for sitcom Dear John. The one on the left though, I'm guessing at either Twin Peaks or Northern Exposure (it looks like a moose's head on a wall).

The moose's head is actually a deer's head - it's a pun on Dear (deer) John.

I have the boxset of this. It's a bittersweet sitcom written by John Sullivan about a single parent teacher who joins a 1-2-1 club. This was I think just before Only Fools and Horses moved to one hour episodes. Sadly it only lasted 2 series, Ralph Bates then became ill with cancer and died about a year after the second series ended, much too young.

In the second series, you start to find out more about the characters including Kirk, who turns out to be quite different when not at the club...

It's not OFAH, but I still find it amusing rewatching. Plus my dad was a single parent and I was about the same age as the boy when it was shown. So I could see a lot of dad and myself at the time (John Sullivan was a master at identifiable characters though, god rest his soul).

From a reply to a tweet, they say that are showing, on the Doctor Who side, 12 stories starting with Jon Pertwee right through to Sylvester McCoy. The 2 week Virgin planner says Spearhead from Space starts Monday 14th.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

The moose's head is actually a deer's head - it's a pun on Dear (deer) John.

I have the boxset of this. It's a bittersweet sitcom written by John Sullivan about a single parent teacher who joins a 1-2-1 club. This was I think just before Only Fools and Horses moved to one hour episodes. Sadly it only lasted 2 series, Ralph Bates then became ill with cancer and died about a year after the second series ended, much too young.

In the second series, you start to find out more about the characters including Kirk, who turns out to be quite different when not at the club...

It's not OFAH, but I still find it amusing rewatching. Plus my dad was a single parent and I was about the same age as the boy when it was shown. So I could see a lot of dad and myself at the time (John Sullivan was a master at identifiable characters though, god rest his soul).

From a reply to a tweet, they say that are showing, on the Doctor Who side, 12 stories starting with Jon Pertwee right through to Sylvester McCoy. The 2 week Virgin planner says Spearhead from Space starts Monday 14th.

Had a feeling I was wrong about that being a moose's head. Well, hopefully Twin Peaks and Northern Exposure get a repeat run on a UK TV channel sometime this year.

I vaguely remember seeing some of Dear John on it's original run, but not enough of it to have good memories of it. I do remember the lead actor passing away sometime after the later episodes originally airing though.

[OceanBlue]

Being shown next weekend on Forces TV is four-part adventure series The One Game (the first two parts on Saturday evening, and the concluding two parts on Sunday evening).

Source: Sky's TV listings.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

The moose's head is actually a deer's head - it's a pun on Dear (deer) John.

I have the boxset of this. It's a bittersweet sitcom written by John Sullivan about a single parent teacher who joins a 1-2-1 club. This was I think just before Only Fools and Horses moved to one hour episodes. Sadly it only lasted 2 series, Ralph Bates then became ill with cancer and died about a year after the second series ended, much too young.

In the second series, you start to find out more about the characters including Kirk, who turns out to be quite different when not at the club...

It's not OFAH, but I still find it amusing rewatching. Plus my dad was a single parent and I was about the same age as the boy when it was shown. So I could see a lot of dad and myself at the time (John Sullivan was a master at identifiable characters though, god rest his soul).

From a reply to a tweet, they say that are showing, on the Doctor Who side, 12 stories starting with Jon Pertwee right through to Sylvester McCoy. The 2 week Virgin planner says Spearhead from Space starts Monday 14th.

Checked Sky's TV listings for next Thursday evening/night, and after "Spearhead from Space" (might re-watch this as I did enjoy the stories in the original series with the Autons ("Terror of the Autons" was the follow-up?), the classic "The Daemons" is the next story being repeated on Forces TV.

The first three episodes of Spenser: for Hire's second season are being shown next week (based on the second episode being shown next Thursday night).

And I've set the first episode of Dear John to record. Looked at the synopses for the first three episodes, and they sound promising.

[cutback73]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Checked Sky's TV listings for next Thursday evening/night, and after "Spearhead from Space" (might re-watch this as I did enjoy the stories in the original series with the Autons ("Terror of the Autons" was the follow-up?), the classic "The Daemons" is the next story being repeated on Forces TV.

The first three episodes of Spenser: for Hire's second season are being shown next week (based on the second episode being shown next Thursday night).

And I've set the first episode of Dear John to record. Looked at the synopses for the first three episodes, and they sound promising.

After next week, Spenser is down from 5 to 4 episodes per week.

In terms of Doctor Who, they are showing Genesis of the Daleks and Terror of the Zygons after The Daemons.

They are also showing a 4 part british scifi/horror serial "Chimera" from the 90s next weekend (repeated the following week). I seem to remember enjoying this when originally shown.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by cutback73

After next week, Spenser is down from 5 to 4 episodes per week.

In terms of Doctor Who, they are showing Genesis of the Daleks and Terror of the Zygons after The Daemons.

They are also showing a 4 part british scifi/horror serial "Chimera" from the 90s next weekend (repeated the following week). I seem to remember enjoying this when originally shown.

You've saved me posting about Chimera. Saw that in the Sky TV listings this past weekend. There's something in the back of my mind telling me I've heard of this series/mini-series before. Pretty sure I haven't seen it before. Something else I haven't seen, but vaguely remember (and could fit with what Forces TV show), is Ultraviolet.

[DTSBOY]

There was another doc on this channel that I just managed to record whilst I was browsing. The guy has quite the collection and has the financial clout to enjoy it too. Well worth a watch. Unsure as to when it's on again.

Peter Jackson's Military Treasures

[DTSBOY]

Originally Posted by DTSBOY

There was another doc on this channel that I just managed to record whilst I was browsing. The guy has quite the collection and has the financial clout to enjoy it too. Well worth a watch. Unsure as to when it's on again.

Peter Jackson's Military Treasures

Friday 25th 13.30 - 14.35

[OceanBlue]

The source of the following is a combination of Forces TV's Facebook page (including the Community section from their Facebook page) and Sky's TV listings:

- starting next Wednesday evening/night is ITV sitcom Watching, and around mid-March, the Ronnie Corbett-starring BBC sitcom Sorry!