U.K. broadcaster ITV is transitioning its linear drama channel Encore to an on-demand service.
Terrestrial broadcaster ITV launched Encore in mid-2014 on the Sky pay-TV platform. It will now be a digital on-demand service, offering drama boxsets and not exclusive to the Sky platform.
The channel had reruns of ITV shows including “Broadchurch” and “Cold Feet,” as well as older series such as “Brideshead Revisited.” It also had original commissions such as “The Frankenstein Chronicles,” “Harlots,” which it made with Hulu, and “Houdini & Doyle.”
The linear service will close next spring. ITV has yet to seal deals for the new boxset service with other operators, but could do so, or go direct-to-consumer.
An ITV spokesman said: “ITV has decided that the Encore channel will come to an end next spring and from that point we will be focusing on Encore purely as a boxset brand.
“Our great dramas will continue to be available to Sky viewers, but this also gives ITV the opportunity to take Encore on to other platforms, as we continue to develop our pay and distribution business to drive value from our content, making our programs available to more people on more platforms.”
Deadline was first to report the news.
