Broadcastnow: Blighty closes as Drama opens for UKTV

Info thanks to Broadcastnow:

UKTV is to close its British-themed pay-TV channel Blighty after four years, ahead of the launch of its forthcoming scripted channel Drama.
The closure of Blighty comes as it emerged that the broadcaster’s new Drama channel will launch on Freeview slot 20 - the spot previously held by Gold.

The new channel, announced in May, will air classic drama series including Last of the Summer Wine and Call The Midwife from 8 July.

In order to give it a position as high as possible in the Freeview EPG, classic comedy pay-TV channel, Gold will move to slot 26 pushing Home down to new slot 54.

Pay TV channels Gold and Home are both available for viewers to subscribe to via Freeview using the Top Up TV service.

Blighty, which aired on Sky channel 534 and Virgin channel 206, as well as TalkTalk channel 118, will close at midnight on 5 July.

UKTV controller Emma Tennant said: “Blighty has been a valued member of UKTV’s network of channels since 2009, shining a spotlight on Great Britain and society. However UKTV has a strong commitment to innovation and it now feels the right time to close this channel and focus on building our strong and vibrant portfolio of channel brands and related video on demand products.”