ITV Unveils Winter Programming Schedule
ITV has announced the line up for its winter schedule, with the broadcaster offering viewers a varied mixture of in-house reality programmes, drama productions, daytime listings and factual programming, as well as re-commissions of popular series such as Doc Matin, The Brief and Vincent.
The line-up will see a new reality series called Soapstar Superstar as well as a Strictly Dancing style show called Dancing on Ice fronted by Torvill and Dean.
Daytime programming will include a new lifestyle show called Looking Good, Feeling Great, while factual will contain shows entitled Supersize Surgery and 30 Stone Lighter.
The drama line up will see David Jason in a new role in a one-off about a submarine disaster called Ghostboat, while Kevin Whately returns as Inspector Morse’s right-hand man in Lewis.
Commenting on the broadcasters’ winter schedule, Nigel Pickard, ITV1 director of programmes said: “I am very pleased to unveil a winter schedule, which promises to be every bit as successful as the autumn.”
ITV has also revealed that it has commissioned a string of new programming, which will include Shane Ritchie’s ITV drama debut as well a new series from At Home with the Braithwaites creator Sally Wainwright called Bonkers.
As well as beefing up its winter schedule, the broadcaster has been expanding its digital offerings, with last months launch of ITV4, offering viewers premium sporting events, detective and crime based shows and big budget American imports hoping to tempt male viewers away from rival offerings across all digital platforms (see ITV Gears Up For Digital Launch).
ITV4 is the latest in a long line of digital channel launches by ITV, following ITV3’s launch last year (see ITV3 Launches On Sky Following GSB Acquisition). The broadcaster has plans to expand its channel portfolio further, however, having confirmed that a dedicated children’s TV channel will begin broadcasting by 11 February 2006 (see ITV Confirms February Launch For Kids Channel).
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