Carlton’s Food Network To Close

Carlton is closing its pay TV channel, the Food Network, at the end of the year because of falling advertising revenues.

Carlton’s director of business development, Matthew Kearney, said: “Carlton’s Food Network, in common with many specialist niche channels, has experienced weaker than expected advertising and e-commerce revenues. We do not see a realistic prospect of improvement in the current climate and we have decided to limit further exposure.”

The closure follows an operational review of the channel set up after Carlton dissolved its Taste Network joint venture with Sainsbury’s two months ago (see Carlton To Close Taste Network).

Both Carlton and Granada are suffering from the ill effects of the current advertising downturn and are under increasing pressure to cut costs. Carlton closed its consumer entertainment websites, Popcorn and Jamba in July and Granada cut 80 jobs from its health TV channel and website, Wellbeing shortly afterwards (see Carlton Interactive To Close Websites).

Carlton: 020 7663 6363 www.carlton.com

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