ITV Plans Digital Channel For Re-Runs

ITV is planning to launch a number of new digital channels to tackle its declining power ratio in the digital marketplace.

Speaking at the United TV 2003 conference, Granada’s chairman Charles Allen announced its first new digital channel will be named ITV Gold.

ITV executives remain tight lipped about the new launch but it is expected to be similar to the UK Gold channel, which screens old favourites such as EastEnders from the BBC. It is expected the new channel will screen old series of Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect.

The news that ITV’s fourth digital channel is to be a platform for its back catalogue will provide further fuel to the critics of multi-channel TV, who have argued it provides a cultural wasteland of old and best forgotten programming.

Despite the ITV Digital fiasco, Allen remains upbeat about ITV’s role in the multi-channel marketplace and took yesterday’s opportunity to heap praise on ITV2, which has benefited from spin-off shows such as Blind Date (see ITV2 launches Blind Date Spin Off Show).

In other news, Des Lynam has signed up to be the face of ITV’s football coverage for at least another year, in a deal believed to be worth over £1 million.

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com

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