The administrators of Ideal World have struck a deal to sell the brand, website and Freeview channel to rival teleshopping channel TJC.
- Freeview channel 51 is set to return to air shortly, as the deadline for restoring service looms.
- The channel fell into administration in early July after failing to find a buyer.
- The deal with administrators Kroll Advisory is understood to also include Ideal World’s studio equipment.
The Ideal World brand is to live on following confirmation from multiple industry sources overnight that TJC has bought a number of assets from the doomed teleshopping company.
Ideal World fell off air and then into administration in July following financial difficulties and continued trading losses.
Administrators Kroll Advisory have since then been exploring ways to sell off the company’s assets.
TJC, which last year bought Ideal World’s former Freeview channel (channel 22), has now bought the rights to use the Ideal World brand and plans to relaunch the website and Freeview channel.
But time is ticking away. Under Freeview channel listing rules, the 12 week grace period for a channel that has suspended broadcasts will expire shortly. TJC is therefore required to resume broadcasts before the slot is lost. Since July, Freeview channel 51 has shown a static caption, first advising that programmes had been suspended. This was later changed to a static logo.
Earlier this month, Ideal World’s former Sky channel numbers, 664 and 671, were sold to QVC. RXTV understands a fee of over £16,000 including VAT was paid to Sky to cover EPG fees even while it was delisted so that the slots could be sold on.
TJC Beauty makes way
It’s understood TJC wants to relaunch Ideal World on Sky by replacing TJC Beauty, which currently runs on Sky channel 668.
The new Ideal World is due to be operated as a separate entity from the main TJC service.
However, the deal doesn’t include former Ideal World staff, who are now redundant. A number of Ideal World presenters have since found new roles, including at the new Shop Extra TV channel, launched by Create & Craft in August.
Marc Thornham