ITVBe

ITVBe
Logo used since 15th November 2022
CountryUnited Kingdom
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Timeshift serviceITVBe +1
Ownership
OwnerITV plc
ParentITV Digital Channels
Sister channels
History
Launched8 October 2014; 10 years ago (2014-10-08)
Links
Websitewww.itv.com
Availability
Terrestrial
FreeviewChannel 28 (SD)
Channel 93 (+1)
Streaming media
ITVXWatch live (UK only)
TVPlayerWatch live (UK only)
Sky GoWatch live (UK only)
Virgin TV GoWatch live (UK only)
Watch live (+1) (UK only)

ITVBe is a British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. The channel was first announced on 12 February 2014 and launched on 8 October 2014.[1] ITVBe broadcasts reality and unscripted shows, including US acquisitions such as The Real Housewives franchise, Million Dollar Listing New York, and Botched; and original programming such as The Real Housewives of Cheshire, Dinner Date, and The Only Way Is Essex. The channel has also occasionally aired feature films, particularly from the romantic comedy genre, and from May to September 2023 also broadcast female-skewed comedy and drama such as Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.[2]

A high-definition simulcast, ITVBe HD, launched on Virgin Media on 19 November 2014, along with a one-hour timeshift feed, ITVBe +1. Both channels were exclusive to Virgin until the ITVBe +1 service was made available on Sky and Freesat on 15 December 2014, and the ITVBe HD service on 12 December 2023.[citation needed] As part of a number of changes to ITV's broadcasting, ITVBe +1 was removed from Sky and Freesat on 13 April 2021.[3] ITVBe +1 is also available on Freeview, broadcasting between 2am and 4am.

On 19 September 2022, ITVBe and other ITV digital channels simulcast ITV's coverage of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey.

On 7 October 2022, ITVBe’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts were removed in order to streamline the ITV channels for an upcoming rebrand that happened on 15 November. On the same day, the majority of videos uploaded on ITVBe’s YouTube account were moved to the ITVX YouTube account.

  1. ^ "ITV confirms ITVBe launch date". ITV. 22 July 2014.
  2. ^ [Programme listings for ITVBe, w/c 6 May 2023]
  3. ^ "ITVBe +1 axed on satellite". RXTV. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.