Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

UKTV launches U Masterbrand on air and unveils global superstar Cher in U streaming advert

22/07/2024

Stream on U

Today marks the launch of UKTV's new Masterbrand U, which sees its free streaming service transition to U and its free-to-air channels become U&Dave, U&W, U&DRAMA and U&YESTERDAY. Viewers will see the changes on air and across platforms, with all assets reflecting the new brand design system.

To kick off the launch, UKTV has teamed up with legendary singer Cher for an advert that celebrates the wealth of free quality content on the U streaming service, promising its viewers they can lose themselves in what they love, whatever you want to watch, we've got U .In a creative twist, the global superstar is travelling through some of Britain's best-loved shows on U, performing a new rendition of the iconic song, I Got You Babe, which was recorded especially for the launch of U.

U's launch is supported by an extensive media campaign, created in partnership with culture-first media agency Havas Entertainment. It has been designed to deliver the most personally recommended campaign ever carried out by the broadcaster, with the aim of generating buzz and awareness for the new Masterbrand, while emphasising the depth and breadth of content available on U.

"We've taken a bold approach to our new branding"Penny Brough, UKTV's Chief Marketing Officer, said, Following ten months of research, design work and asset creation, I couldn't be more excited to see U come to life on and off air. We've taken a bold approach to our new branding, and this has been matched by our biggest ever multi-media campaign and our launch advert featuring Cher, one of the most recognisable women in the world.

Our aim was to deliver an advert that's authentic, memorable, creates talkability and feels every bit as dynamic as our new Masterbrand U. Cher's iconic song I Got You Babe perfectly aligns with our campaign tagline We've Got U , reflecting the depth and range of almost 8,500 hours of free content available on the U streaming service.

The advert starts with UKTV execs pitching their creative to Cher, who, in a vision, says she can see it now , and immediately starts singing I Got You Babe. Along the way, Cher meets EastEnders' Barry (Shaun Williamson), and together they perform karaoke in the Queen Vic, as well as meeting Orlando Bloom who's perched on the top of a rock as he tests his physical and mental strength in the self-titled, Orlando Bloom: To the Edge. The superstar also has a chance to test her own nerve as she's sat in the back of a car driven by Chris Kamara and Jeff Stelling, cheating death in Sri Lanka in World's Most Dangerous Roads.

Viewers can catch a glimpse of Cher make a surprise appearance in Secrets of the London Underground, as well as many other well-loved shows including popular series, Annika, which sees Cher perform to DI Annika Strandhed (Nicola Walker) who heads up the shows Marine Homicide Unit, as the unlikely duo don lifejackets, setting sail on the Scottish waters.

The TV commercial was developed by UKTV's in-house creative agency in partnership with HunkyDory Films, and led by Scott Russell, UKTV's Creative Director. It was directed by Christian Bevilacqua, with Leanne Farleigh as Senior Producer, Mary Claire Seiler as Head of Production and Eoin McLaughlin as Creative Consultant.

"We wanted to create an ambitious advert to launch U"Scott Russell said: We wanted to create an ambitious advert to launch U to highlight the variety of quality programming and to stand out in a hugely competitive landscape. It had to be joyful, have content at its heart, and to tell the story of whatever you love, we've got you. What's more, it needed to be memorable and have a surprise factor that was not only authentic but connected with current and new viewers. Who better to do this than mega superstar, Cher, performing a brand-new version of her iconic song, I Got You Babe, whilst meeting some new and familiar friends on the way?

The advert will be available on UKTV's social and linear channels including U&Dave, U&Drama, U&Yesterday and U&W from today, and supported by UKTV's biggest ever media spend on ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, as well as YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. To complement this, UKTV's media agency, Havas Entertainment, has secured a strategic radio takeover in partnership with Bauer on the day of launch, with the renaming of Absolute Radio to U&Absolute Radio plus activity across Magic Radio (becoming U&Magic Radio online) and Greatest Hits Radio for the day, featuring on-air endorsements from top talent and personalised U channel recommendations for callers-in, based on their music preferences.

U's 360 launch campaign will also be seen across Britain's most prominent poster sites, celebrating new and exclusive shows using a fly-poster design that helps to showcase U's range of content in a noisy and disruptive way.

Additional activations include social media takeovers, CTV UI, digital display, online videos, and a unique TV dinner pop-up restaurant.

The multi-media campaign to launch U builds on a series of successful campaigns UKTV and Havas Entertainment have developed together since 2021, with their partnership having been extended earlier this year. Recent successes include the Campaign Media Week Award-shortlisted Boxpark and Dave campaign and the Campaign Tech Award-winning Best Use of Data campaign, which drove significant growth for UKTV Play (now U).

Alex Sherr, Managing Partner, Havas Entertainment, "Its brilliant to support U during this exciting period of transformation and growth for the brand. U's commitment to fostering joy through its diverse range of shows has a deep-rooted place in our culture, which is what we're all about. We now enter our fourth year together, which we can't quite believe but have loved every second. We're exc
LINK: https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/newsroom/uktv-launches-u-masterbrand-on-a...
See more stories from uktv

Most recent headlines

17/12/2025

The EU Investigative Journalism Award 2025: bold reporting, regional impact, and rise in public-interest journalism

Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...

17/12/2025

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable Night

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts 10 Industry Icons During Unforgettable ...

17/12/2025

ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCast

ESPN to Debut MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, a New AI-Driven NFL Data-AltCastThe series, powered by Adrenaline TruPlay AI, launches Dec. 22 and runs through ...

17/12/2025

Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network

Inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games Debut Under the Lights' in Primetime on ...

17/12/2025

Ring In the New Year With New Playlists Mixed by Artists, and More Spotify Hacks

The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...

17/12/2025

Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station Links Toledo Walleye and Mud Hens Venues with...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

17/12/2025

Broadcast and Streaming Serve Up a Historic Month of TV in Nielsen's The Gauge

Audiences Watched Over 103 Billion Minutes of TV on Thanksgiving Day NFL Games ...

17/12/2025

EdgeBeam Wireless Makes Initial Sale, Expands Executive Team

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Warner Bros. Discovery Tells Shareholders to Reject Paramount Bid

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

NDI, Zoom Collaborate on Seamless Connectivity

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Broadcasters Mark Momentous Year of Challenges Amid Viewing Fragmentation

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Tennessee Public Broadcaster to Trial AI Metadata

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Chyron Unveils New AXIS Maps

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Broadcast Solutions Group Acquires PMT Professional Motion Technology

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Study: U.S. Pay TV, Video Revenue to Total $190.7B in 2030

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

Texas Attorney General Takes Aim at 5 TV Manufacturers

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

DirecTV Wins Appeal in Retransmission Price-Fixing Suit

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

E.W. Scripps Rejects Sinclair Takeover Bid

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

17/12/2025

KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration

KPop Demon Hunters Stars Visit Berklee for Weeklong Celebration Andrew Choi and EJAE, who voiced the film's main characters and contributed to its soundtr...

17/12/2025

Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With the World's First Soundbar Audio System Powered by Dolby Atmos FlexC...

December 17 2025, 17:00 (PST) Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With ...

17/12/2025

Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 January

Wednesday 17 December 2025 Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...

17/12/2025

Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The Brave Heroics Of The Customs Officers In Taskaree

Back to All News Inside The Unseen World Of Indian Customs: Netflix Reveals The...

17/12/2025

Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Netflix on January 9th

Back to All News Netflix announces PAPARAZZI KING: the docu series coming to Ne...

17/12/2025

Netflix Unveils First Look at 'Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole' Premiering on March 26, 2026

Back to All News Netflix Unveils First Look at Jo Nesbo's Detective Hole Pr...

17/12/2025

Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation

Back to All News Netflix Welcomes Warner Bros. Discovery Board Recommendation Business 17 December 2025 Global Link copied to clipboard After Careful Revi...

17/12/2025

RT announces appointment of Kathy Fox to role of Commissioning Editor, Documentaries and Features

RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...

17/12/2025

UC San Diego Lab Advances Generative AI Research With NVIDIA DGX B200 System

The Hao AI Lab research team at the University of California San Diego - at the forefront of pioneering AI model innovation - recently received an NVIDIA DGX B...

17/12/2025

Into the Omniverse: OpenUSD and NVIDIA Halos Accelerate Safety for Robotaxis, Physical AI Systems

Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...

17/12/2025

The Glitterball awaits: Dancing with the Stars unveils dance pairings for 2026

With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...

16/12/2025

Stranger Things' Playlist Takeover Challenges Fans to Decode Clues and Unlock Exclusive Volume 2' Content

Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...

16/12/2025

Spotify and NAVER Bring Music Integrations and Premium Benefits to Korea

Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...

16/12/2025

Around the World With Spotify Wrapped: 2025 Fan Destinations You Had to See

2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...

16/12/2025

L3Harris Delivers Most Powerful Thrusters for NASA's Lunar Gateway

Three 12-kilowatt Advanced Electric Propulsion System thrusters, supplied by L3Harris Technologies, form the core of Gateway's propulsion system. Pictured i...

16/12/2025

Palantir and L3Harris: Reindustrializing Defense Through AI-Powered Production

The challenge facing America's defense industrial base is not just about speed - its about rebuilding the foundation that makes speed possible. Our nations ...

16/12/2025

NFL Boosts Broadcast, Streaming Viewing Share in November

Share Share by: Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Pinterest Flipboard...

16/12/2025

Spanish Broadcaster Updates Playout With Pebble Solutions

SEVILLE, Spain Canal Sur, the public broadcasting service for Andalusia, Spain, has completed a total technology refresh based on Pebble's resilient, softwa...

16/12/2025

Telescript International Buys Prompter Software Company

NEW YORK Teleprompting hardware provider Telescript International has acquired all software code and intellectual property previously owned by Telescript West. ...

16/12/2025

Ookla: T-Mobile Is Fastest Fixed Wireless Access Provider

As cable operators face increased competition from 5G fixed wireless access providers, a new report from Ookla Research finds that T-Mobile is the FWA speed lea...

16/12/2025

Apple TV App for Android Now Supports Google Cast

Apple has announced a major upgrade to the Apple TV app for device owners outside the Apple ecosystem with news that the Apple TV app for Android now supports G...

16/12/2025

PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia and Space42 Explore Partnership to Extend 5G Direct-to-Device Services

Space42 grows Direct-to-Device partner ecosystem through a Memorandum of Underst...

16/12/2025

VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 Results of Both VEON and Kyivstar

16 Dec 2025 VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...

16/12/2025

VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acquisition of Solar Power Company

16 Dec 2025 VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...

16/12/2025

Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro Star in Swedish Thriller Series Bytet'

Back to All News Emma Appleton, Fares Fares, Frida Gustavsson and Jakob Oftebro...

16/12/2025

Docu-reality 'My Korean Boyfriend' Gets a Trailer and Premiere Date: January 1st. Is Real Life Really like a K-drama?

Back to All News Docu-reality My Korean Boyfriend Gets a Trailer and Premiere D...

16/12/2025

Czech TV Elevates Video Streaming with Harmonic

Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...

16/12/2025

RT Sport Manager of the Year Nominees 2025 Revealed

RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December. On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...

16/12/2025

Music legend Brian Kennedy revealed as the twelfth and final contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...

15/12/2025

Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From The Famous Group

Harlem Globetrotters Celebrate 100th Anniversary With New Brand Campaign From Th...

15/12/2025

2026 Sundance Film Festival Reveals 54 Titles Selected for Short Film Program Presented by Ketel One Vodka

Top L-R: La Tierra Del Valor (The Home of the Brave), Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawe...