Performance Channel to end after 23 years

The Performance Channel will close at the end of the month after nearly 25 years broadcasting music and arts entertainment.

Sky has listed no programmes for the channel from 6am on July 1 and BARB is to cease providing audience data.

Performance, which launched in 1985 and began satellite broadcasting the year after, airs performances and profiles mostly in the classical, jazz, opera and easy listening genres.

Operating company Eicom bought the channel from the Daily Mail & General Trust in 2005 and this year launched rock-focused spinoff Performance MainStreet.

The firm, which earlier this month announced it would no longer be listed on the AIM, was unreachable for comment.