ITV-owned children’s channel CITV will be shutting down, following a recent move to streaming services.
The CITV channel was launched on March 11, 2006, although was previously as a block on ITV’s main channel from January 3, 1983.
Home to beloved kids TV shows such as Art Attack, My Parents are Aliens, Bernard’s Watch, Jungle Run, Horrid Henry and Rosie and Jim.
Why is CITV shutting down?
Since the rebranding of ITV Hub to ITVX, in December 2022; the broadcaster has been focusing more on where parents are letting their kids watch content, and this is now on streaming services.
There’s been a decline in Broadcast TV minutes, according to ITV and data provided by BARB:
‘BARB viewing data demonstrates that while the average amount of broadcast TV minutes of kids TV channels watched by 4-15 year olds per week has declined by -62% since 2019, unmatched* viewing has risen by +30% in the same period, demonstrating the streaming first trend in kids viewing.’
Where is replacing CITV?
The broadcaster is completely closing down the children’s channel on September 1st and has since launched as ITVX Kids as of July, 2023; therefore this is only available via their online streaming service.
Upon looking through their site, there’s a free ITVX Kids channel, as well as plenty of free shows to watch in the kids category… in addition to their paid premium section that offers more content.
‘A child-safe ITVX Kids profile, will bring together over 100 brilliant titles in a dedicated homepage, with over 1000 hours of programming to choose from, a near doubling of the current offer, with curated rails and collections.’
Although, the free section does contain adverts, and households would need access to internet, in order to keep watching content, unlike broadcast television.
There are still some children’s content that will be on ITVBe, for LittleBe pre-school segments and early mornings on ITV2.
This broadcaster isn’t the only one closing down their children’s channel. The BBC are also shutting down CBBC and BBC Four in 2025.
