General : A new ITV channel is launching. Wonder if VM will get it soon?

[cheekyangus]

A new ITV channel is launching on Freeview, called Merit. It's going to be a cooking and gardening channel.

I wonder if VM will get it from launch.

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...8#post36042678

https://rxtvinfo.com/2020/merit-laun...iew-channel-34

[denphone]

Evenings only as they would struggle to fill a daytime and evening slate imo with differing content.

[ScottishSteve]

Prime Time viewing for Gardening & Cooking from 9pm-Midnight
Sounds more of a placeholder than anything with any substance tbh

[Mr K]

Cooking and gardening? More originality from ITV.

It'd be ok if they got rid of the cooking I guess

[cheekyangus]

A better placeholder than a +1 channel at least. Certainly more worthwhile use of space on Freeview. Maybe not as appealing on other platforms, especially if they had limited hours too.

---------- Post added at 17:04 ---------- Previous post was at 17:01 ----------

Originally Posted by Mr K

Cooking and gardening? More originality from ITV.

It'd be ok if they got rid of the cooking I guess

I suspect it's because they have content of these categories they show on their main channel that they don't think fits in with the type of content expected on ITV2/3/4/Be , and Merit gives them a place to show repeats of it.

I'd be surprised if there is new content. We'll soon see.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Cooking and gardening? More originality from ITV.

It'd be ok if they got rid of the cooking I guess

Yeah the gardening might be useful for you Mr K.

[Raider999]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Cooking and gardening? More originality from ITV.

It'd be ok if they got rid of the cooking I guess

I cannot wait!

[Tricky Trevor]

Sounds good,cooking in the garden

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Tricky Trevor

Sounds good,cooking in the garden

Unfortunately, it never appeared. It has been speculated that this was a ruse by ITV to engage in a bit of LCN trading and that they had no intention of ever launching this channel

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Unfortunately, it never appeared. It has been speculated that this was a ruse by ITV to engage in a bit of LCN trading and that they had no intention of ever launching this channel

There have been instances in the past on Freeview were a Coming Soon slate was up for many months and the channel still launched.

And I don't think the LCN rules would allow it without the channel broadcasting anything ever. Otherwise it would have happened more often.

Freeview has a history of convoluted maneuvers to get channel numbers. E.g. Sony Movies using Movie Mix and content from More Than Movies to slowly morph the channel from a quiz/shopping channel to get around the rules of the time. Freesports bought into The Store to do an LCN swap a couple years ago. The latter is more straightforward, so presumably the rules changed.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Tricky Trevor

Sounds good,cooking in the garden

Monty Don does it regularly, he also wanders off and does a bit of wildlife too, sometimes I think he forgets its Gardeners World !

Originally Posted by Tricky Trevor

Sounds good,cooking in the garden

BBQ TV

Originally Posted by Paul

BBQ TV

If they make one for younger viewers, CBBQ.

[Legendkiller2k]

Originally Posted by Paul

BBQ TV

Funny you said this lol as there is BBQ channel on YT i watch often some of the food looks incredible.

[tweetiepooh]

BBQ Pit Boys on YT is well made and varied from burgers to whole alligator. Very American. I wish I had the same space for all the units they have but they use a Weber Kettle a lot.