Peterborough-based shopping channel faces uncertain future following Monday’s suspension of broadcasts as potential buyers of the channel asked to provide offers by the end of today.
RXTV reported yesterday that the channel had fallen off air at 3pm.
In the latest developments:
- Sky has this morning removed both Ideal World HD and sister channel Ideal Extra from its Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). The move means viewers can’t currently select channel 664 (Ideal World) and 671 (Ideal Extra).
- Meanwhile, potential buyers for the business, having been asked to express their interest by the end of last week have now been told to submit offers by the end of today (Tuesday). It is not certain that potential buyers will want the business in the current form. Instead, interested buyers may wish to take on the website, but not the TV channels. If broadcasts can resume in some form, Ideal World’s channel slots on Sky and Freeview could be traded.
- There is still ongoing uncertainty over the status of customer orders placed before the channel went off-air. Where goods can’t be delivered and no refund is available, customers should contact their card issuer. Credit card users are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if the cost was over £100, but some financial institutions may be able to help if the amount is lower.
Why Sky removes channels that suspend broadcasts
Sky’s channel listing rules, which all broadcasters on its satellite TV platform must sign up to, says that Sky is “entitled to suspend the provision of EPG Services in respect of a Channel, forthwith if the Broadcaster fails to broadcast the Channel in the Territory in accordance with the Broadcast Requirements such that the Channel is not available to viewers.”
Freeview channel listing rules on the other hand do permit channels to temporarily suspend programming for a time before the channel number is lost. As a result, viewers turning on Freeview channel 51 will continue to see an information slate about the suspension of Ideal World’s broadcasts. Virgin Media already dropped the channel last month.
Marc Thornham