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ITV looking at "new channel" possibilities

(September 2006)

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BR
Brekkie
Quote:
ITV "looking hard" for new channels
Thursday, August 31 2006, 15:22 BST - by Neil Wilkes

EDINBURGH -- ITV is developing ideas for more digital channels, according to director of television Simon Shaps.

The broadcaster's digital portfolio currently includes ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and Men & Motors, which were recently joined by kids channel CITV and gaming station ITV Play.

...


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds36437.html


Well, obviously ITV have far too much quality programming to squeeze into their current line up!

Here's an idea ITV - how about a 24 hour news channel?


It is of course completly unneccessary, and where they'll get the space from (on Freeview) I don't know. The way ITV are going they'll probably close down CITV and launch something like ITV Shop during the day!
AJ
AJ
Aren't there 4 or 5 new streams becoming available on Freeview as TopUpTV is relaunching as a VOD service. As I understand it, Five have got two of them for their 2 new channels, leaving 2 or 3 available to other broadcasters? Perfectly feasable that ITV could snap one up if they're willing to fork out the £13,000,000+ going rate?

Edit: From MediaGuardian
Quote:
[snip]It is part of a radical new strategy being pursued by Top Up TV, which is restyling itself as a Sky+-style personal video recorder service.

Its current channel lineup, including the likes of Discovery, Cartoon Network and UKTV Gold, will be phased out, at least in the form that we know it today. Instead of 11 linear channels, viewers will be able to pick and choose the programmes they want to watch, which will be downloaded to their hard drive overnight.

The switch provides enough capacity for five new channels, two of which have now been taken up by Five. Irish pay-TV group Setanta, which paid £392m last month for the rights to show 46 Premiership matches a season over three years from August 2007, is already hot favourite to land another one of them, leaving two other vacant berths.

Possible contenders include the likes of rival sports operators Sky or ESPN, or perhaps Disney.
:-(
A former member
WOW ITV CRAP there idea! full of the rubbish ITV has,

Itv don;t need more channel there need bloodly better programmes!!
JE
Jez Founding member
Well I dont think ITV need anymore channels, they already have 4. They need to sort out the problems with their current channels before even thinking of launching more!
ST
Stuart
Jez posted:
Well I dont think ITV need anymore channels, they already have 4.

I think you mean 6 (inc CITV and ITV Play).

AJ posted:
Aren't there 4 or 5 new streams becoming available on Freeview as TopUpTV is relaunching as a VOD service. As I understand it, Five have got two of them for their 2 new channels, leaving 2 or 3 available to other broadcasters? Perfectly feasable that ITV could snap one up if they're willing to fork out the £13,000,000+ going rate?

I think more will become available on Freeview after analogue switch-off. I know that's not fully until 2012, but perhaps the "other channels" was a long-term strategy at ITV plc, rather than a something rushed. They have enough digital channels which they need to establish reputations for yet.
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
623058 posted:
WOW ITV CRAP there idea! full of the rubbish ITV has,

Itv don;t need more channel there need bloodly better programmes!!


Erm ok, more incomprehensible ITV bashing from you there.

ITV do actually have a hugely succesful multi-channel strategy which is helping to offset the decline in audience at the main channel. ITV2 is hugely popular (beating Five in primetime on Sunday) and ITV3 isn't that far behind. The channel underperforming is perhaps ITV4 which needs beefing up a bit content wise, but it's a bit of a niche audience.

Why wouldn't any television network in the multi channel age be looking at new channel possibilities ?
SK
skyisthebest
Its already known that ITV2+1 is launching at some stage this Autumn.

It wouldnt surprise me if ITV3+1 follows soon after....
AN
Andrew Founding member
This thread is based on one sentence that Simon Shaps made almost a fortnight ago. Is it a slow news day or something?

He's hardly going to say "We have no plans to do anything in the future" when making a speach to industry execs is he!
BL
Blob
itv needs less channels, not more!
JE
Jez Founding member
StuartPlymouth posted:
Jez posted:
Well I dont think ITV need anymore channels, they already have 4.

I think you mean 6 (inc CITV and ITV Play).

AJ posted:
Aren't there 4 or 5 new streams becoming available on Freeview as TopUpTV is relaunching as a VOD service. As I understand it, Five have got two of them for their 2 new channels, leaving 2 or 3 available to other broadcasters? Perfectly feasable that ITV could snap one up if they're willing to fork out the £13,000,000+ going rate?

I think more will become available on Freeview after analogue switch-off. I know that's not fully until 2012, but perhaps the "other channels" was a long-term strategy at ITV plc, rather than a something rushed. They have enough digital channels which they need to establish reputations for yet.


I was talking about the main entertainment channels - ITV1, 2, 3 and 4, not the specialist channels which deal with one area like CITV and ITV Play.
PE
Pete Founding member
Blob posted:
itv needs less channels, not more!


well no.

ITV2 and 3 are rather good at what they do. ITV4 has a low audience but potential. The problem ITV has is ITV1 being so poor.

If they want to piss their money away on another channel let them. however they need to fix ITV1 as that's where all the money *should* be
AM
amosc100
I think its about time they tidied up their channels a bit before actually expanding their portfolio. How about...

ITV1 - 24 hour mainstream PSB channel - need to increase its popularity and make it more engaging for EVERYONE, incuding children!

ITV2 - 24 hour general entertainment channel - including first run foreign imports, daytime have a more female target programming strand (until about 6pm)

ITV3 - 24 hour classic TV programming - NO first run programming

ITV4 - 24 hour mens channel - merge present ITV4 and Men and Motors. Sport to be shown on this channel instead of ITV2

CITV - 6am to 6pm Children's programming

ITV Play - 6pm to 6am gaming programing including The Mint and Quizmania (no gaming programming to be shown on either ITV 1 or ITV2)

ITV Movies - 24 hour channel showing feature-length British Drama's, original ITV Films, Made-for TV Movies, Miniserials and Blockbuster movies (no-first run blockbusters)

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