Merit (TV channel)
{{Short description|British TV channel}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Merit
| logo = Merit logo 2020.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| launch_date = {{Start date|2020|07|29|df=yes}}
| closed_date = {{End date|2020|09|17|df=yes}} (49 days)
| owner = ITV plc (July–August 2020)
Sky Group (August–September 2020)
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| replaced_by = Sky Arts (Freeview)
}}
Merit was a short-lived time-shared British lifestyle and entertainment TV channel which was a part of the Freeview lineup in the late summer of 2020.{{cite web|title=Merit|url=http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/tv/cs/dtps103305ba2merit.htm|website=Ofcom|access-date=21 August 2020}}{{cite web |title=Merit |url=http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/radiolicensing/html/tv/cs/dtps103305ba1merit.htm |website=Ofcom |access-date=30 July 2020}}{{cite web |title=RXTVinfo - Merit launching on Freeview channel 34 |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2020/merit-launching-on-freeview-channel-34 |website=RXTVinfo |access-date=30 July 2020}}
Broadcasting
The channel began broadcasting at 9pm on 29 July 2020, its launch delayed from the earlier date of 8 July; under its first iteration it was owned by the ITV Digital Channels division of ITV plc.{{cite web |title=TVForum - (ITV) Merit - post |url=https://tvforum.uk/forums/post1245017#post-1245017 |website=TVForum |access-date=29 July 2020}} It broadcast three hours daily from 9pm to midnight on the former ITV3 +1 Freeview channel slot (which itself was moved to channel 58).{{Cite web|title=ITV to launch new channel Merit|url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/fb_405565.html|access-date=2020-07-14|website=Sports Mole|language=en-GB}} During ITV Digital Channels' control of the channel, it ran no advertisements.{{cite web |title=The Ident Gallery - Merit: 2020 Presentation |url=https://theident.gallery/merit-2020.php |website=The Ident Gallery |access-date=30 July 2020}}
The channel's licence was acquired by Sky UK Limited on 20 August 2020. On 17 September 2020, the channel's Freeview slot (34) was taken over by Pick, which moved to accommodate the launch of Sky Arts on channel 11,{{cite web |title=Sky Group - Press Pack: Sky Arts Available to Everyone from 17 September |url=https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/press-pack-sky-arts-available-to-everyone-from-17-september |website=Sky Group |access-date=25 August 2020}} and Merit consequently ceased transmission that day at midnight.{{cite web |last1=Tatum |first1=Kris |title=Freeview confirms closure of two channels and moves five others |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18727325.freeview-axes-two-channels-moves-five-others-shake-up/ |website=Telegraph & Argus |access-date=17 September 2020}}
Programming
The channel didn't broadcast original programming, with the content shown being archival or imported programming from its respective licence holders. Programming from Sky included Four Weddings and the American and New Zealand versions of My Kitchen Rules, while ITV's contributions included The Hungry Sailors and Britain's Best Back Gardens.{{Cn|date=September 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{ITV}}
{{Sky Ltd}}
{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}
{{Freeview}}
Category:2020 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:2020 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Category:ITV television channels
Category:Sky television channels
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2020
Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2020