CITV channel celebrates first birthday

The CITV channel is celebrating its first year of broadcasting this week.

The channel, which launched on March 11 2006, has unveiled some new 'birthday' idents to mark the occasion.

Steven Andrew, programme director of digital channels for ITV, said: ''What's made the channel successful this year is a wealth of strong, distinctive, original British content from producers that know and care about how to make memorable children's television. It's been an astonishing first year for the CITV channel and long may it continue.''

Since launch, CITV channel has grown in audience and in August 2006 it became the top performing commercial dedicated children's channel, between 6am and 6pm.

The channel is available on Sky channel 624, Virgin Media 734 and Freeview 75.