CLASSIC children’s TV channel CITV is closing down as of September 2023.
It is known for once being the home of old favourites like My Parents Are Aliens, Horrid Henry, Fraggle Rock and The Worst Witch.
Why is CITV closing down?
CITV is a children’s television channel owned by ITV.
It currently airs daily from 6am to 9pm but will cease to broadcast from September to make way for a new kids streaming service from ITV.
The channel will stop on September 1 at 9pm, according to TV Zone UK.
ITV said in a statement, via Sky News, that the decision to close down the channel comes as a result of falling viewership.
The statement said: “As a consequence of this new streaming approach and responding to the changing ways children and their parents are increasingly accessing content, the CITV broadcast channel will close after the summer holidays on 1st September.”
Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern‘s Saturday Showdown was the first programme to air on CITV.
The channel began broadcasting in 2006.
Fun House, Knightmare, Children’s Ward, Raggy Dolls, Woof, and Art Attack are some of the other classic shows that called CITV their home.
Ghost Train, Press Gang, Danger Mouse, Trap Door and Count Duckula are also shows that were hugely popular when they aired on the channel.
What kids channel will replace CITV?
ITV’s new destination for kids TV will be called ITVX Kids.
ITVX Kids was launched in July and is set to replace the long-running CITV.
Content from the CITV channel has been moved over to the streaming service ahead of the channel’s closure.
ITVX replaced what was once known as the ITV Hub in December 2022.
The platform is intended to help the broadcaster compete with streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
ITVX Kids is free to watch with adverts.
Users can also sign up to ITVX Premium for £5.99 a month to watch without ads.
What has ITV said about closing CITV?
Craig Morris, Managing Editor of ITVX released a statement regarding the decision to close CITV.
He said: “We’re really excited to launch this dedicated destination for kids on ITVX, which will be home to a wealth of content including new series, recognisable brands and existing favourites for a range of ages, all in one child-safe area, with editorial curation to guide viewing.”
