ITV Global Entertainment Sets Launch Date for New Channel

HONG KONG, October 29: ITV Global Entertainment has firmed up a
distribution alliance with India’s NDTV Networks for its new
general-entertainment channel for Asia, Granada TV, which is set to launch on
November 1 on the ABS-1 satellite.

Granada TV will deliver a
range of content from ITV’s extensive programming library, such as Prime Suspect, The Jeremy Kyle Show, The
Friday Night Project, Airline and
Vroom Vroom. Many of the programs
have never been seen before in Asia. Initially, the channel will be broadcast
in English, with local subtitles to be available in launch markets.

In the first major
strategic distribution agreement for Granada TV, NDTV will serve as the
exclusive distributor of the channel in India and South Asia, subject to
downlink license approval. Further agreements with a number of distribution
platforms will be announced in the coming weeks.

Peter Iacono, the
president and managing director of ITV Global Entertainment, said: "With
over 50 years of experience as the U.K.'s number one commercial television
network, we are tapping into our unique catalogue of quality content and
commercial skills as a broadcaster to bring this new must-see channel to Asia.
Granada TV is a large-scale, serious undertaking offering compelling love
stories, drama, gripping mysteries and exciting light
entertainment—that's what everyone will love and tune-in to. It's about
family; it's about lifestyle; it's just plain and simple good TV.”

James Ross, the regional
director for ITV Global Entertainment in Asia, added: “The region is ripe for
the launch of a channel which brings high quality, commercially successful TV
hits in a contemporary format; and initial feedback from pay-TV operators has
been very positive. With ITV's ongoing commitment to creating new content,
Granada TV will bring discerning viewers in Asia a continuous offering of
fresh, world-class entertainment.”

—By Mansha Daswani