ITVBe

ITVBe
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)
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 programmes, 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, along with occasional dramatic and comedy programming focused on women.

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.[2]

The channel will be replaced by a newly-formatted quiz show channel to be known as ITV Quiz in June 2025; ITVBe's existing programming will be spread out among ITV2 and ITVX.[3][4]

Most watched programmes

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The following is a list of the ten most watched episodes of a series on ITVBe since the channel began broadcasting in October 2014. Figures are based on Live +7 data supplied by BARB.[5] The Only Way Is Essex is consistently the highest rated series on ITVBe.

Rank Show Viewers
(millions) 		Date
1 The Only Way Is Essex 1.36 9 November 2014
2 1.23 17 April 2016
3 1.22 14 October 2018
4 1.21 23 September 2018
5 1.19 10 April 2016
6 1.18 10 October 2014
7 1.18 30 October 2016
8 1.16 11 November 2018
9 1.16 2 November 2014
10 1.16 12 March 2017

Associated services

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EarlyBe

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EarlyBe, a service that is part of ITV Hub (now ITVX), launched on 3 September 2020, allowing viewers to watch the network's programming on the site day-and-date before its premiere on ITVBe; programming appears on the service at 7 a.m.[6]

LittleBe

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ITVBe channel introduced a new children's strand, LittleBe on 3 September 2018, which was dedicated to preschool programming and aired daily from 9 a.m. to noon, including among its programming longtime CITV staples Sooty and Postman Pat.[7][8][9] The strand closed without advanced notice on 31 May 2024.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "ITV confirms ITVBe launch date". ITV. 22 July 2014.
  2. ^ "ITVBe +1 axed on satellite". RXTV. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Television channel ITVBe to become ITV Quiz, with The Only Way Is Essex moving to ITV2". BBC News. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  4. ^ "TOWIE AND THE REAL HOUSEWIVES MOVE TO A SUPERCHARGED ITV2". ITV Press Centre. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  5. ^ BARB, via [1] Archived 18 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "ITV Hub launches EarlyBe". Press Centre. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  7. ^ "ITV Creative • littleBe". Bubble. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. ^ "ITV revives the Sooty Show".
  9. ^ "Sooty and Sweep are making a comeback!". Yours. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Broadcasting U-turns of 2024". RXTV. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
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