OUTtv confirms UK closure is due to coronavirus

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief

Published: June 29 2020 | 16:14

Last updated: June 30 2020 | 07:33

OUTtv confirms that its imminent closure in the UK after just three months is due to financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic.

OUTtv, the UK's first dedicated LGBTQI TV channel, has confirmed that its impending closure is due to the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

As we revealed on Friday, the premium service is being shut down after just three months on the air, with the last day of programming scheduled for tomorrow.

Confirming the news today, a spokesperson told us: "It is with regret that we announce the closure of OUTtv, Sky Channel 330, with effect from 1st July 2020. Due to the unprecedented economic impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic in our company, we are unable to continue to broadcast our channel on UK satellite. Service will resume on an on-demand basis later this year.

"In normal economical circumstances we invest to build a network in a new territory for two years, acquire a lot of new content and do a lot of marketing. Unfortunately a lot of LGBT magazines, media outlets had a hard time coming out on time and our planned LGBT days, prides and film festivals had to be cancelled because of COVID-19.

"Nevertheless, we are happy to offer our on-demand service soon to the UK & Irish LGBT community. This on-demand service was planned to launch this winter, but we are now moving the launch of our on-demand service OUTtv Pro to the start of this autumn."

OUTtv's programming lineup includes Drag Race Thailand, Shade - Queens of NYC and RuPaul's Gay For Play.