UKTV is a joint venture between the BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, and Virgin Media owned Virgin Media Television, formerly Flextech Television. UKTV is one of the United Kingdom's largest television companies.

UKTV's channels are available via satellite and cable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. In the UK, on digital terrestrial television, UKTV History and Dave are available on the Freeview platform, and selected parts of UKTV Gold, UKTV Style and UKTV Food are available through Top Up TV.

Most programmes on UKTV's channels are repeat broadcasts of BBC productions (although the entertainment channels also feature programmes made by other companies), and the channels themselves are played out by Red Bee Media (formerly BBC Broadcast) from their 'Broadcast Centre' in West London.

Before 31 January 2008 all UKTV output was in 4:3 ratio, programmes originally produced in 16:9 widescreen format were cut down to a 14:9 letterbox format. Since that date UKTV began broadcasting all advertising, its continuity and some recently purchased programme material in the full 16:9 format. From 2008 UKTV are considering airing localised versions of their channels in the Republic of Ireland market featuring local advertisements and sponsorship.