Prime Television (Euro Republics)

Prime (usually stylised in all caps as PRIME) is a Euro Republican free-to-air television channel, it is owned by 365 Media.

Launch
Prime Telelvision Euro Republics began broadcasting on 17 March 1992 at 6.30pm. It mostly screened classic UK programming, documentaries, sports and dramas aimed at the 30 plus audience. Prime's terrestrial broadcast covers 65% of the population, although in October 1992, Prime was the first terrestrial channel added to the ET1 Satellite Service, potentially reaching the whole Euro Republics population.

In February 1993, Prime entered into a joint venture with CBS and ABC to provide the Euro Republics with CBS’s primetime programming, timeshifted (TV3 had FOX & NBC rights, while ETV had syndicated US shows). This enabled Prime to screen quality American programming as well as first-run movies and shows from the USA. This completely changed the lineup of Prime, now appealing to a broader demographic. By November, the deal had been extended, with companies like Channel 5 UK, Nine Network Australia and Paramount (who were to soon launch their own TV network) joining the joint venture.

In early-1994, Prime launched a German-language version, which rebranded as Sechs (Six) later in the year.

The channel introduced a news programme in September 1994, airing each day at 6:00 pm, and was the first show to introduce one hour news. It was produced by Reuters, and used the theme music that would be used for Channel 5 News in 1997.

In mid-1995, the channel experimented with encrypted programmes, mostly football & films which led to the channel becoming a subscription channel that October, allowing the upcoming Channel 4 to broadcast in better quality.

Starting in 1996, to compete with Ch 4 screening much programmes from The WB, Prime began to simulcast the primetime lineup from UPN. The network also acquired rights to screen MGM movies,

In February 1998, the news programming switched production from Reuters to Sky News, after 60% Reuters was bought by EuroMedia. The change in production company led to the programme being cut to 30 minutes and becoming more highbrow.