Kingston Communications, the Hull-based telco, is pulling the plug on its broadband TV service because not enough people watch it. Launched in 2000, Kingston Interactive TV (KIT) offered dozens of channels via a set-top box and an ADSL connection.

At its height KIT Digital TV boasted 10,000 subscribers, but today only has about 4,000 punters. Existing customers have already been told the service will close from 3 April.

In a statement, the telco said: "Without the benefits of scale, further investment in the KIT service would not be cost-effective, and due to increased competition in the Digital TV market, it is not viable to continue the service as it currently exists.

"We have written to all of our KIT customers to provide them with more information about the closure and alternative options for receiving Digital TV."

The demise of KIT comes as BT is gearing up for the launch of its nationwide IPTV service later this year. It announced today that the Cartoon Network has become the latest content provider to sign up for the service. ®

Related stories

• Hull disappears off t'internet (23 January 2008)
• Kingston: nobody else wants to provide broadband round here (11 September 2007)
• Kingston hides Hull roots with KCom rebrand (17 August 2007)
• Kingston swallows call centre firm (18 December 2006)
• Kingston profits triple (28 November 2006)
• Kingston buys Smart421 (29 September 2006)
• Homechoice yet to hit play on network roll-out plans (12 May 2006)
• Sun DRM finds a home in Korean IPTV pilot (14 April 2006)
• Green.tv in the pink after promising launch (12 April 2006)
• BT inks rock concert TV deal (10 April 2006)
• BT denies rift ahead of IPTV launch (6 April 2006)
• Kingston Comms takeover talks end (31 March 2006)
• IPTV set for £1bn future (30 March 2006)
• Deutsche Telekom fingers Microsoft for IPTV (21 March 2006)
• Telcos will have to fight for IPTV success (21 March 2006)
• BT names IPTV service (20 March 2006)
• Industry comment IPTV: killer apps and dead horses (1 March 2006)
• JVC tunes in to mid-size LCD HDTVs (1 March 2006)
• BT plays down 'free broadband' report (27 February 2006)
• Sky offers preview of its HDTV service (23 February 2006)
• Industry comment IPTV and VoD: the great content adventure (23 January 2006)
• BT hires kids' favourites for IPTV service (16 January 2006)
• IPTV gets cool reception in UK (22 November 2005)
• BT IPTV launch by summer 2006 (28 September 2005)
• ADSL killed the Video Store (27 November 2000)
• Hull to wire entire city to the Net (24 May 2000)