Internet holiday sales firm MyTravel is to launch a dedicated channel on Sky Digital, according to Manchester Online.

A team of 32 have been recruited for the Manchester-based venture, which is to be headed up by Karen Kidd, the former boss of Granada's now defunct Shop! shopping channel.

"There will be a few exciting features on the channel. These will include an auction section as well as live late deals revealed on screen," she said. "This differs from Shop - a catalogue-style TV show - because that was a joint venture between two companies which had individual problems of their own and neither saw Shop as a priority as a result."

MyTravel TV will launch in the next few months, and will feature presenters "familiar to north-west viewers".

"Another thing we are concentrating on is how we lure viewers into the channel," Kidd added. "We will advertise in travel agents owned by MyTravel and there will also be a lot of TV advertising."