Editing ITV Choice

{{Short description|Cable and satellite channel}}
{{About|the international TV channel previously known as ITV Granada|the UK regional service|ITV Granada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = ITV Choice
| logo = ITV Choice logo, 2022.png
| logo_size = 175px
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1997|df=y}}
| closed_date = {{plainlist|
* {{End date and age|2019|08|20|df=y}} (Malta, Middle East and Asia)
* {{End date and age|2020|06|04|df=y}} (Africa)
  }}
| picture_format = {{plainlist|
* [[576i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])
* [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])
  }}
| owner = [[ITV plc]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| area = [[Asia]]<br>[[Africa]]<br>[[Middle East]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| headquarters = 
| former_names = {{plainlist|
* Granada UKTV (1997–2008)
* Granada TV (2008–2010)
* ITV Granada (2010–2013)
  }}
| website = {{url|itvchoice.za.com}}
| sat_serv_1 = 
| sat_chan_1 = 
}}

'''ITV Choice''' (formerly '''Granada UKTV''', '''Granada TV''' and '''ITV Granada''') was a British-based television channel owned and operated by [[ITV plc]].

==History==
[[File:ITV Granada (Middle East & Asia).png|100px|thumb|ITV Granada logo from 2010 to 2013.]][[File:ITV Choice.svg|100px|thumb|Former logo used 2013 to 2019.]]
The channel was launched in 1997 by [[Granada plc|Granada Media]] under the name Granada UKTV, and offered cable and satellite services in [[Middle East]], [[Malta]] and [[Asia]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9IlKAQAAIAAJ&q=%22UKTV%22 ''Aviation Week & Space Technology''], Volume 156, Issues 1-5, Penton Media, 2002, page 241</ref> It was also carried by [[Sky Network Television]] in [[New Zealand]] between 1999 and 2002.<ref name="NZ">[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0112/S00050/new-year-programme-changes-for-sky-televsion.htm New Year Programme Changes For Sky Television], 10 December 2001</ref>

The service was expanded and relaunched as Granada TV during 2008, when ITV announced plans to offer the channel to cable and satellite operators in Asia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itvplc.com/media/news/itv-worldwide-previews-entertainment-channel-in-asia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202101/https://www.itvplc.com/media/news/itv-worldwide-previews-entertainment-channel-in-asia|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2013|title= ITV Worldwide previews entertainment channel in Asia|publisher=ITV plc|date=23 June 2008}}</ref>

On 1 November 2010, it was rebranded as ITV Granada.<ref>[http://www.content-technology.com/asiapacificnews/?p=886 GRANADA TV rebrands to ITV GRANADA], C+T, 3 November 2010</ref> The channel was renamed again as ITV Choice on 25 March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiatoday.com/pressrelease/itv-granada-rebrand-itv-choice|title=ITV Granada to rebrand as ITV Choice|publisher=Asia Today|date=8 February 2013|access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>

On 20 August 2019, it suddenly ceased broadcasting in many markets across the Middle East, Malta and Asia, while transmission in South Africa was unaffected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/08/itv-pulls-pay-tv-channel-from-multiple.html|title=ITV pulls pay TV channel from multiple countries|date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111105016/https://www.rxtvlog.com/2019/08/itv-pulls-pay-tv-channel-from-multiple.html|access-date=18 January 2020|url-status=usurped|archive-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> On 18 March 2020, it was announced that the channel would cease broadcasting in Africa on 4 June of that year.<ref name="channel24.co.za">[https://www.channel24.co.za/TV/News/itv-choice-will-no-longer-be-available-on-dstv-from-4-june-20200318 ITV Choice will no longer be available on DStv from 4 June], 18 March 2020</ref> ''[[Tipping Point (game show)|Tipping Point]]'' was the last programme to be broadcast on the channel before closure in Africa.

In December 2022, an ITV Choice branded [[FAST channel]] was launched on the [[Samsung TV Plus]] platform in Australia in December 2022, which airs various ITV Studios-owned programmes.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-12-09 |title=ITV Studios sells 1000+ hours of content in APAC |url=https://advanced-television.com/2022/12/09/itv-studios-sells-1000-hours-of-content-in-apac/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In October 2023, it was renamed as Entertain by ITV Studios.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2023/10/16/itv-studios-to-launch-new-fast-channels-internationally/|title=ITV Studios to launch new FAST channels internationally - Digital TV Europe|accessdate=20 March 2024}}</ref>

==Programming==
It primarily carried [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and other UK programming, produced by [[ITV Studios]] and other independent production companies. Key programmes include ''[[Coronation Street]]'', ''[[Emmerdale]]'', ''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]'', ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'', ''[[I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)|I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!]]'', ''[[The Jonathan Ross Show]]'', ''[[Doc Martin]]'', ''[[The Chase (British game show)|The Chase]]'', ''[[Tipping Point (game show)|Tipping Point]]'', among others.

==Availability==
* [[Asia]] and [[Middle East]] on [[Measat 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lyngsat.com/abs1.html|title=ABS 1 at 75.0°E|publisher=LyngSat|access-date=15 January 2009}}</ref>
* Australia on [[Samsung TV Plus]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Channels {{!}} Samsung TV Plus {{!}} Samsung Australia |url=https://www.samsung.com/au/tvs/smart-tv/samsung-tv-plus/all-channels/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Samsung au |language=en-AU}}</ref>
* [[Malaysia]] on [[Astro (Malaysian satellite television)|Astro]] (channel 735, from 21 December 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/200912175467/astro-adds-granada-tv.html |title=Astro adds Granada TV |publisher=Rapid TV News |date= 17 December 2009|access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref> until 16 January 2017){{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* [[New Zealand]] on [[Sky Television (New Zealand)|Sky Television]] (from January 1999 until 1 January 2002)<ref name="NZ"/>
* [[Taiwan]] on [[Chunghwa Telecom]] (channel 82, from 6 December 2010){{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* [[Malta]] on [[GO (Malta)|GO]] Channel 305 and [[Melita (telecommunication company)|Melita Cable]] (channel 309){{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* The Middle East on [[Star TV (Asian TV networks)|Star TV]]'s [[Star Select]] service, Orbit Showtime Network [[OSN]] channel 47 and Arab Digital Distribution{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* [[Hong Kong]] on [[Now TV (Hong Kong TV channel)|now TV]] (channel 517, from 7 September 2010) and [[Star TV (Asian TV networks)|Star TV]] (from January 1997 until 1 January 2002){{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* [[Indonesia]] on Skynindo (channel 27) and [[TelkomVision]] (channel 503){{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* [[India]] on [[Airtel digital TV]] (from 5 January 2012){{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* [[Singapore]] on [[mio TV]] (channel 23, from 15 July 2009 until 25 March 2013), [[StarHub TV]] (channel 523, from 1 December 2009 until 30 December 2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/23456|title=Granada TV to Launch on StarHub|publisher=WorldScreen.com|date=25 November 2009|access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref> and [[Singtel TV]] (channel 337, from 1 July 2015 until 19 August 2019)<ref>[http://www.digitaltveurope.net/391492/itv-re-launches-channel-in-singapore/ ITV re-launches channel in Singapore], ''Digital TV Europe'',
1 July 2015</ref> 
* [[Thailand]] through Cable Thai Holding.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
* Africa on [[DStv]] (from 5 May 2015 until 4 June 2020)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://advanced-television.com/2015/03/20/itv-choice-heading-to-africa/ | title=ITV Choice heading to Africa | publisher=Advanced Television | date=20 March 2015 | access-date=2 May 2019 }}</ref><ref name="channel24.co.za"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website|www.itv-choice.com}}

{{ITV}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ITV Choice}}
[[Category:ITV television channels]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels]]
[[Category:English-language television stations]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2020]]