It originally launched on 15 January 2003, airing from 6:00pm-6:00am as it timeshared with UKTV Bright Ideas.

The channel was announced on 3 October 2002 as part of a preparation of networks on the Freeview service.

[5] Ftn closed at 6 am on Monday 1 October 2007, with Virgin 1 launching at 9:00 pm on the same day.

(Big Game TV took this spot until April 2007) Between November 2005 and November 2006 Quiz Night Live broadcast from 22.00 - 01.00 daily only to be replaced by Ostrich Media's Quiz Call which ceased broadcasting on FTN on 1 January 2007.

In June 2007, Live Roulette TV began broadcasting on FTN between the hours of midnight and 03:00am.