Tech
ITV Digital will shut down operations at midnight tonight, with the closure of most pay TV channels following at 7am on Wednesday, it has been confirmed.
Administrators Deloitte and Touche will pull the plug on the channels - including Sky One, Paramount and UK Gold - having informed the broadcasters that it can no longer continue without a buyer.
Barring an eleventh-hour lifeline, hundreds of thousands of subscribers will now be left with just the free-to-air channels offered by the likes of the BBC and ITV in the short term.
Pre-empting the news earlier this afternoon, it emerged that 900 jobs were to go at the operator's Pembroke-based call centre.
In a statement from Deloitte and Touche confirming the closure at midnight and the job losses at Pembroke, it has also been confirmed that 400 jobs at the Plymouth call centre will also go.
"The Administrators of ITV Digital have today confirmed that they will be closing the Pay Television operation of the Company from this evening," it said. "Insufficient interest has been shown from prospective purchasers to justify a continuation of the operation. The free to air channels will continue in the short term whilst the Administrators pursue the best realisation for the value of the assets."
Meanwhile, Digital Spy has learnt that the transmission of E4 and FilmFour is set to continue for "at least the next two weeks" - more details here. Ironically, the ITV Sport Channel will become a free-to-air station from tomorrow for remaining ITV Digital viewers and ntl:home customers.
Stick with Digital Spy for full updates on the ITV Digital situation.
Administrators Deloitte and Touche will pull the plug on the channels - including Sky One, Paramount and UK Gold - having informed the broadcasters that it can no longer continue without a buyer.
Barring an eleventh-hour lifeline, hundreds of thousands of subscribers will now be left with just the free-to-air channels offered by the likes of the BBC and ITV in the short term.
Pre-empting the news earlier this afternoon, it emerged that 900 jobs were to go at the operator's Pembroke-based call centre.
In a statement from Deloitte and Touche confirming the closure at midnight and the job losses at Pembroke, it has also been confirmed that 400 jobs at the Plymouth call centre will also go.
"The Administrators of ITV Digital have today confirmed that they will be closing the Pay Television operation of the Company from this evening," it said. "Insufficient interest has been shown from prospective purchasers to justify a continuation of the operation. The free to air channels will continue in the short term whilst the Administrators pursue the best realisation for the value of the assets."
Meanwhile, Digital Spy has learnt that the transmission of E4 and FilmFour is set to continue for "at least the next two weeks" - more details here. Ironically, the ITV Sport Channel will become a free-to-air station from tomorrow for remaining ITV Digital viewers and ntl:home customers.
Stick with Digital Spy for full updates on the ITV Digital situation.
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