ITV Choice

ITV Choice (formerly Granada UKTV, Granada TV and ITV Granada) was a cable and satellite television channel owned and operated by ITV plc.

ITV Choice
Launched1997 (1997)
Closed20 August 2019 (2019-08-20) (Malta, Middle East and Asia)
4 June 2020 (2020-06-04) (Africa)
Owned byITV plc
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
LanguageEnglish
Broadcast areaAfrica
Formerly calledGranada UKTV
(1997–2008);
Granada TV
(2008–2010);
ITV Granada
(2010–2013)
Websiteitvchoice.za.com

History

ITV Granada logo from 2010 to 2013.

The channel was launched in 1997 by Granada Media under the name Granada UKTV, and offered on cable an satellite services in Middle East, Malta and Asia.[1] It was also carried by Sky Network Television in New Zealand between 1999 and 2002.[2]

The service was expanded and relaunched as Granada TV during 2008, when ITV announced plans to offer the channel to cable and satellite operators in Asia.[3]

On 1 November 2010, it was rebranded as ITV Granada.[4] The channel was renamed again as ITV Choice on 25 March 2013.[5]

On 20 August 2019, it suddenly ceased broadcasting in many markets across the Middle East, Malta and Asia, while transmission in South Africa was unaffected.[6] On 18 March 2020, it was announced that the channel would cease broadcasting in Africa on 4 June of that year.[7]

Programming

It primarily carries ITV and other UK programming, produced by ITV Studios and other independent production companies. Key programmes include Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Dancing on Ice, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, The Jonathan Ross Show, Doc Martin, The Chase, Tipping Point, among others.

Availability

ITV Choice broadcast in the following countries and regions:

  • Africa on DStv (from 5 May 2015 until 4 June 2020)[8]

It was available on satellite Measat 3 across Asia and Middle East.[9]

  • Singapore on mio TV (channel 23, from 15 July 2009 until 25 March 2013), StarHub TV (channel 523, from 1 December 2009 until 30 December 2013)[11] and Singtel TV (channel 337, from 1 July 2015 until 19 August 2019)[12]
  • Thailand through Cable Thai Holding.
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References

  1. Aviation Week & Space Technology, Volume 156, Issues 1-5, Penton Media, 2002, page 241
  2. New Year Programme Changes For Sky Television, 10 December 2001
  3. "ITV Worldwide previews entertainment channel in Asia". ITV plc. 23 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  4. GRANADA TV rebrands to ITV GRANADA, C+T, 3 November 2010
  5. "ITV Granada to rebrand as ITV Choice". Asia Today. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  6. "ITV pulls pay TV channel from multiple countries". 20 August 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  7. ITV Choice will no longer be available on DStv from 4 June, 18 March 2020
  8. "ITV Choice heading to Africa". Advanced Television. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  9. "ABS 1 at 75.0°E". LyngSat. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  10. "Astro adds Granada TV". Rapid TV News. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  11. "Granada TV to Launch on StarHub". WorldScreen.com. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  12. ITV re-launches channel in Singapore, Digital TV Europe, 1 July 2015
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