ITV sets launch date for new pay channel

ITV has announced that ITV Encore will launch on Sky channel 123 on 9 June 2014.

Dedicated to the broadcaster’s British drama, ITV Encore is to become ITV’s first new channel in eight years.

Available on Sky’s platforms, the pay channel forms part of a wider four year partnership with Sky and is to become ITV’s biggest partnership with a platform operator.

Commenting on the launch earlier this year, ITV’s chief executive, Adam Crozier, said that ITV Encore is “right in line with [ITV’s] strategy of growing non-advertising revenues while at the same time creating even greater opportunities to showcase new drama.”

Details of the schedule and broadcast hours will be confirmed nearer the time.