ITV plans Asian TV channel in global push

chris

ITV is planning to launch a pan-Asian satellite television channel, as it tries to exploit its library of programming internationally for the first time in its history.

The broadcaster is developing a small channel that currently distributes in the Arab region and spread it out into India, the rest of East Asia and eventually China.

Prime Suspect and The Jeremy Kyle show will be amongst the programming on offer as part of a general entertainment channel that will transmit in English and that is expected to carry the ITV brand.

Peter Iacono, president and managing director of ITV oworldwide, said: "We will be looking at developing more channels to create a network of global channels," with another launch due shortly. But he said that North America was a "long term target" because the market is crowded.

Unlike the BBC, ITV has made only modest efforts to sell its shows abroad. Coronation Street airs in Canada and the broadcaster sells the Hell's Kitchen format in the US. However, all these deals involve ITV selling content to local broadcasters rather than supplying its own channels.

ITV will preview the service to Asian satellite platform owners and is confident of striking agreements that will take the channel into several million homes. Once set up it will formally launch later this year under the brand. The existing small channel is called UKTV.

Source: timesonline