ITV Axes SM:TV Live After Five Years On Air

ITV has axed its Saturday morning children’s show, SM:TV Live, after five years and is to replace it with a new entertainment programme made by Carlton.

SM:TV Live came to prominence under TV presenters Ant & Dec following its launch five years ago. However, audiences for the show have floundered from highs of around 2 million since the pair left in December 2001.

The new, as yet unnamed programme, will launch next spring and will target 4 to 12 year-olds with a broad range of games, sketches, music and acquired programmes, with increased interactive elements. It will sit alongside ITV’s Saturday morning chart show, CD:UK, which has been recommissioned until the end of 2004.

Reports suggest the new show, which will air in the same 9.25am to 11.30am slot, has been in development for a number of years and includes a range of on location filming, in addition to studio coverage.

Commenting on the schedule changes, ITV’s new controller of children’s programmes, Steven Andrew said: “After five fantastic years of SM:TV we all recognised it was time for a change on Saturday mornings. We’ve gone for a show that is all about fun with a team with bags of fresh ideas. I’m confident that the new show, teamed with CD:UK, now a real fixture of Saturday mornings, will be a compelling proposition for kids.”

SM:TV will run until the autumn and will then be followed in the same slot by SM:TV Gold, which will mix the best elements of a live show with the funniest moments from the past five years. The programme will include performances from the biggest names in pop and re-runs of comedy strands such as Cat the Dog and Chums.

Andrew added: “SM:TV has given great service to ITV1 and its viewers. I’m delighted that we are giving it such a good send-off and look forward to enjoying again some of the great moments from the past five years.”

Earlier this week ITV announced plans to launch a new interactive platform, called ITVi, to allow viewers to interact with programmes such as The Premiership and reality TV talent show, Pop Idol (see ITV Launches New Interactive Platform For Viewers).

ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com

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