There’s a big change coming to UK homes that will see a popular ITV channel being switched off for good. The upcoming closure will not only affect Freeview users but also those with premium services, such as Sky and Virgin Media as well. The update, which will kick in from June, will see the much-loved ITVBe channel closed and replaced by something called ITV Quiz instead.
Right now, ITVBe features reality shows such as Dinner Date, The Only Way Is Essex, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes.
Once the channel is discontinued, many of these programmes will move to ITV2 to make way for game shows on the new service.
It’s unclear why ITV is switching things up, but it could be that its swathe of game shows, such as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, The 1% Club, Deal or No Deal, Catchphrase and Jeopardy! are proving more popular with viewers.
Although ITV has plenty of quiz-style content, it has not been announced which programmes will populate the schedule for ITV Quiz. However, the network said it planned to use the channel slot to “draw on ITV’s popular, market-leading UK quiz and game shows”.
Hopfully, there will be more news on what’s to come soon, but if you love reality TV you’re going to need to watch those shows on a different channel from June.
ITVBe being ditched from the listings isn’t the only upcoming change.
The POP Max channel is also being removed from Sky devices as well. This service left Freeview last year but has continued to be broadcast on Sky devices.
This kids TV service – which has content aimed at youngsters aged 6 to 9 – has been running since xxx and includes shows such as Rabbids Invasion, Beyblade, Dragon Ball Z and Trolls: The Beat Goes On.
This is not a decision from Sky. It’s been confirmed that Narrative Entertainment is closing the POP Max channel. That means it will no longer be available to view, including on Sky’s TV platforms – Sky Glass, Sky Stream and Sky Q.
