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 | |
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Launched | 1997 |
Closed | 20 August 2019 (Malta, Middle East and Asia) 4 June 2020 (Africa) |
Owned by | ITV plc |
Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
Language | English |
Broadcast area | Africa |
Formerly called | Granada UKTV (1997–2008); Granada TV (2008–2010); ITV Granada (2010–2013) |
Website | itvchoice |
History
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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:
It was available on satellite Measat 3 across Asia and Middle East.[9]
- Malaysia on Astro (channel 735, from 21 December 2009[10] until 16 January 2017)
- New Zealand on Sky Television (from January 1999 until 1 January 2002)[2]
- Taiwan on Chunghwa Telecom (channel 82, from 6 December 2010)
- Malta on GO Channel 305 and Melita Cable (channel 309)
- The Middle East on Star TV's Star Select service, Orbit Showtime Network OSN channel 47 and Arab Digital Distribution
- Hong Kong on now TV (channel 517, from 7 September 2010) and Star TV (from January 1997 until 1 January 2002)
- Indonesia on Skynindo (channel 27) and TelkomVision (channel 503)
- India on Airtel digital TV (from 5 January 2012)
- 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.
References
- Aviation Week & Space Technology, Volume 156, Issues 1-5, Penton Media, 2002, page 241
- New Year Programme Changes For Sky Television, 10 December 2001
- "ITV Worldwide previews entertainment channel in Asia". ITV plc. 23 June 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
- GRANADA TV rebrands to ITV GRANADA, C+T, 3 November 2010
- "ITV Granada to rebrand as ITV Choice". Asia Today. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- "ITV pulls pay TV channel from multiple countries". 20 August 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ITV Choice will no longer be available on DStv from 4 June, 18 March 2020
- "ITV Choice heading to Africa". Advanced Television. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- "ABS 1 at 75.0°E". LyngSat. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
- "Astro adds Granada TV". Rapid TV News. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- "Granada TV to Launch on StarHub". WorldScreen.com. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ITV re-launches channel in Singapore, Digital TV Europe, 1 July 2015