Stupid question that seems quite difficult to research...

[ffutures]

When did Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess first air in the UK?

Hercules was made from 1995 onward and I think it was shown in the UK in 1996 or so, but I'm far from sure, and can't seem to find the information so far. Anybody know?


update 28th april - Thanks to everyone who commented - it looks like both were shown on Sky from September 1996 onward. The uk terrestrial launch on Channel 5 (which is where I first saw it) can't have been earlier than March 1997, since that's when Channel 5 first aired.

Comments

[kedamono]

I hit IMdB and they list air dates for Hercules to France and Germany in 1995 and 1996 for Xena. So, it has to be the same for the UK? (No listing for UK at all.)

[ffutures]

Not necessarily, but I'm guessing it's likely. It was shown on Channel 5 and they showed quite a few older programs, so there may have been a delay.

[dewline]

You'd think the channels with broadcast rights would have to keep records in order to maintain their "over the air" broadcasting licenses?

[dormouse1953]

I've a vague memory that, like a lot of shows at that time, it got first showing on Sky.

[ffutures]

Looks like it - but I first saw in on C5, and that can't have been earlier than March 1997 since that's when the channel launched. Which is actually the info I was looking for, and I should have checked that first!

[vivdunstan]

Here you go for Hercules:

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!search/Hercules$20tv$20series$20uk/rec.arts.tv.uk.misc/GlGP8ViYO6E

[vivdunstan]

Try this unmangled link:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!search/Hercules$20tv$20series$20uk/rec.arts.tv.uk.misc/GlGP8ViYO6E

(you may be better reading that on a desktop!)

Look at the first post by Richard Lloyd in the thread, on 21 June 1996:

Here's another weekly list (#156) of programmes to look out for (IMHO) on UK TV during the period 22nd-28th June 1996.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:
...
- There's a silly-looking "Hercules" fantasy series starting on Sky One on Saturday - the sort of TV series that Arnie wouldn't look out of place on of course. Might be good for a laugh or two, but 37 weeks of the thing ??

[ffutures]

Looks like it was first on Sky - but I first saw in on C5, and that can't have been earlier than March 1997 since that's when the channel launched. Which is actually the info I was looking for, and I should have checked that first!

[vivdunstan]

And here you go for Xena's UK premiere:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/rec.arts.tv.uk.misc/xena$20new$20series|sort:date/rec.arts.tv.uk.misc/kGMN91rMNuQ/IUwW1-cnrmsJ

Richard Lloyd again:

Here's another weekly list (#167) of programmes to look out for (IMHO) on UK TV during the period 7th-13th September 1996.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:
...
- If "Hercules" isn't bad enough (one joke spread over a huge number of episodes), "Xena: Warrior Princess" turns up from the same producers on Sunday.

[ffutures]

Thanks for all the research - you gave me the essential clue, e.g. that Channel 5 wasn't around when Herc/Xena first launched, so I can't have seen it earlier than mid-1997.