TCM is to launch its first spinoff channel towards the end of 2006, the network has announced.

The station, 'TCM2', will air "core" library movies such as Casablanca, Gone With the Wind and The Philadelphia Story alongside originally-produced shows.

"TCM has so many wonderful movies at its disposal and having a channel like TCM2 gives us a fantastic opportunity to show more of these movies more of the time and to extend the viewer's options through more creative programming across two channels instead of one," said Dee Forbes, general manager of TBS UK and Ireland.

The move is part of Turner’s ongoing strategy to ramp up its presence in the multichannel market; earlier this month it announced plans for two new cartoon channels.

TCM2, which will air daily between 7pm and 3am, is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2006.