Popular shopping channel Ideal World makes sudden exit from Virgin Media TV platform, days after further ownership changes at the channel.
The Peterborough-based channel was terminated overnight, leaving cable viewers without access to the channel. Baffled viewers have begun to take to social media to find out what’s happened, with no notice given to viewers of the closedown.
RXTV reader Chris got in touch with us this morning reporting Ideal World’s former Virgin Media slot (channel 747) now informs viewers of its closure. The message directs viewers to some of the alternative shopping channels still available on the platform.
Ideal World continues on Freeview, Freesat and Sky. as well as online.
The development follows changes to the ownership structure of the channel this week. Last year, the remains of Ideal World were sold to investor Hamish Morjaria. But earlier this week, SDI (Retail Co 8) Limited took a shareholding in the company, alongside the existing shareholding of Morjaria’s Chess Valley Group Limited.
Shopping channel operators have previously gone public raising concerns about the cost of being available on Virgin Media. This led to uncertainty on the future of Create & Craft on the cable TV platform when it was taken over by Hochanda last year. Ideal World reported net liabilities of over £1 million in its latest company accounts.
Marc Thornham