(1 March 2006 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The NBC Universal-owned Sci Fi channel in the U.K. announced that it will be launching a timeshifted offering on Sky's digital satellite platform from 3 April.

Sci Fi +1 will be available on EPG channel number 130 and will play programming an hour later than the main Sci Fi channel. The channel is designed to give Sci Fi viewers more choice in watching programmes.

Noting that the channel launch was an initial step in NBC Universal's expansion plans for the brand in the UK, Sci Fi managing director Nick Betts said, "The launch of the +1 is a hugely significant endorsement of our brand and the universal interest in the sci-fi genre."

Sci Fi channel features films, TV series and special events across the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres including the 80's series V and Steven Spielberg's Taken. Sci Fi in the U.K. has a weekly reach of about 3 million people.