ITV Enters Channel Space in Asia

HONG KONG/LONDON, June 23:
Starting today, ITV Worldwide is providing selected pay-TV operators across
Asia a preview of its new pan-regional general-entertainment channel.

The preview channel will
be based around Granada International’s existing UKTV channel currently
distributed in the Middle East, with further plans to include the re-branding
and relaunch of UKTV, as well as a full channel launch later this year.

Programming will be
sourced from ITV, and the preview channel will initially be broadcast from the
regional satellite platform of ABS-1, operated by Asia Broadcast Satellite. The
channel will include dramas such as Prime Suspect, Murder City, Eleventh Hour and Crash
Burn, along with comedy,
entertainment and reality and talk shows, including The Friday Night Project, Ballroom Bootcamp, Airline, Vroom Vroom and The
Jeremy Kyle Show.

Peter Iacono, the
president and managing director of ITV Worldwide, said, "The development
of a channel which showcases our amazing and varied high-quality programming is
an important part of our business. The opportunities that Asia presents are
very exciting for us and we look forward to getting feedback from cable,
satellite and IPTV operators throughout the region."

James Ross,
the regional director for ITV Worldwide, added, "The introduction of this
new entertainment channel from ITV for Asia, initially as a limited preview
channel, forms part of a concerted effort to broaden the reach and value of our
programming to new audiences. At the same time we want to create a brand
synonymous with quality entertainment television."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski