Granada TV to Launch on StarHub

SINGAPORE: ITV Studios Global Entertainment is to launch Granada TV, a general-entertainment channel, on December 1 on the StarHub pay-TV platform.

Granada TV will now be available through both StarHub Cable TV and Singtel IPTV platforms. The channel will initially be made available free to all StarHub TV customers for six months, until 31 May 2010. It will thereafter be part of a yet-to-be-announced packaging proposition.

Programs to air on Granada TV in December include Prime Suspect, seasons three and four; A Christmas Carol, a contemporary version of the Charles Dickens classic that stars Ross Kemp as Scrooge; The Springer Show, a U.K. version of the tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer; Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, a variety show hosted by the comedy duo; and Rough Diamond, seasons one and two.

Ong Bee Lian, StarHub’s ViP of home solutions, said, “We aim to consistently add value to our cable TV service by offering customers breadth with our wide range of branded channels, and depth in programming with our award-winning and highly rated content from around the world. We are delighted to strengthen our selection of choice programming with the launch of Granada TV, and hope to give customers a taste of what StarHub TV has to offer in terms of U.K. content through this special preview period of the channel.”

James Ross, the regional director for Asia at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, added, “The launch of Granada TV on StarHub is another milestone since its 2008 launch. Granada TV is now available in over a dozen territories with more distribution agreements set to be announced in the coming months. By partnering with StarHub we will be able to introduce a new Singapore audience to an extraordinary range of fresh entertainment programming from ITV Studios, one of the worlds leading TV production companies.”