Hochanda is to merge its Craft Store channel with newly acquired Create & Craft at the end of February. The new combined service will use the Create & Craft brand going forward.
Create & Craft was bought from Ideal Shopping Direct last month. Since then, both channels have continued to run separately. However, presenters from both services have been making appearances on each other’s programmes.
From 25th February 2022, the two channels will merge in to one. At this point, The Craft Store name, used by Hochanda Global Ltd, will disappear from Electronic Programme Guides.
How this will affect viewers
On Freeview, channel 85 will become Create & Craft. The channel will be live between 07:00 and 22:00. Overnight highlights programmes will be available on smart TVs.
The current Create & Craft service on channel 95 will close.
RXTV understands the timing of the changes coincides with the termination of a Freeview carriage agreement signed by Create & Craft’s previous owners. That agreement with Freeview multiplex operator SDN originally started on 26th February 2020.
Sky and Freesat viewers will be able to see the channel 24 hours a day, but channel numbers are still to be finalised.
There is uncertainty over its future on Virgin Media.
For the latest information on how to receive Create & Craft visit our updates page. This is being updated with channel number details and retuning information as it becomes available.
What changes will there be on the channel itself?
Create & Craft will revert to 60 minute shows, replacing the 45 minute format introduced by Ideal Shopping Direct.
What happens to The Craft Store?
The Craft Store name will disappear from TV guides, but the brand will be used to create a new online destination for craft supplies, aiming to reach users who don’t use shopping channels.
What about customer orders?
Current customer orders are not affected. As customers may have already noticed, payment options have already changed as systems move over to Hochanda’s payment platforms.