ITV planning pay channel in Asia
- Published: 23 June 2008 15:50
- Author: Chris Curtis
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- Last Updated: 23 June 2008 15:50
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ITV plans to launch a pan-Asian pay TV channel and is previewing the offering to broadcasters in the region.
The yet-to-be named channel will be based on the Granada UKTV channel currently broadcast in the Middle East, which will itself be rebranded and relaunched later this year. The UKTV channel is not related to the British Virgin Media/BBC joint venture of the same name.
The new channel will feature contemporary drama such as Prime Suspect, Murder City, Eleventh Hour, Crash Burn plus comedy and factual entertainment including The Friday Night Project, Ballroom Bootcamp, Airline, Vroom Vroom, and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
The preview channel will initially be broadcast from the emerging regional satellite platform of ABS-1 operated by Asia Broadcast Satellite.
ITV Worldwide president and managing director Peter Iacono said: "The development of a channel which showcases our amazing and varied high quality programming is an important part of our business. The opportunities that Asia presents are very exciting for us and we look forward to getting feedback from cable, satellite, and IPTV operators throughout the region."
