Travel Channel coming to Freesat

The Travel Channel is to launch on Freesat at the end of March 2013, although there has been no official announcement from either Freesat or owner Scripps Networks.
The channel is likely to appear on Freesat channel 405 just before Easter. Channel 405 was left empty following a Freesat channel reshuffle last autumn and allows the channel to sit next to its sister channel Food Network on the Freesat Electronic Programme Guide. The channel is currently available on Sky and in non-freesat mode on Freesat receivers.
The channel is part of “Travel Channel International”, which was bought by Scripps – owners of the US Travel Channel and sister channel Food Network last year for $103 million.
T he news comes in the week that Scripps Networks CEO Kenneth Lowe said at Deutsche Bank media event in New York that the broadcaster was extremely pleased with the way Travel Channel International is performing – as reported by advanced-television.com.

In February, Jon Sichel, MD of Scripps Networks, told delegates at the C21media’s Schedule Watch conference “We’re introducing a new logo, new marketing and all new travel entertainment programming for the most part.”
Changes to the Travel Channel, including a switch to widescreen will occur later this year; no date has been announced yet. Although the Travel Channel is now available in HD in some countries, there has been no announcement of an HD simulcast for the UK channel feed.