UPC HAS ANNOUNCED that three ITV-run channels are to disappear from its TV line-up overnight, due to the expiry of an agreement with the British independent broadcaster.

ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 will be withdrawn from UPC’s services from midnight tonight due to the expiry of a carriage agreement between UPC and ITV, the cable company said this evening.

ITV2 was best-known for airing spin-off shows to major ITV franchises like The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, while ITV3 regularly reran older crime dramas such as Agatha Christie’s Poirot and A Touch of Frost.

ITV4 aired older comedies like Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and cult dramas like Miami Vice.

UPC added that ITV wasn’t in a position to renegotiate the deal to include the channels in Irish subscriptions, because ITV had struck a deal with another channel provider – assumed to be BSkyB – to provide it with exclusive rights to air certain content aired on the channels.

The company said it expected “the top programmes” aired on the three ITV channels to remain available to Irish viewers through ITV’s partnership with TV3, however.

The ITV channels are to be replaced by new additions to the channel line-up shortly.

The channels were among nine added to UPC’s digital offerings early last year; the channels had briefly appeared on UPC in 2006 before being withdrawn as part of ITV policy which significantly reduced the number of ITV channels available in the Republic of Ireland.

UPC’s carriage of UTV will not be affected by the move.