TRIO, the artsy cable channel, was killed yesterday.

NBC, which acquired Trio in the Universal deal two years ago, quietly put the network to sleep in the third paragraph of a press release yesterday.

NBC said Trio would become an Internet-only service on Jan. 1, when the channel would cease to exist.

Trio’s biggest success was, ironically, a show called “Brilliant, But Cancelled,” which showcased repeats of series shows that had passionate-but-small audiences.

Using the slogan “Pop. Culture. TV,” the network tried to find a niche among hip, TV-conscious viewers. But the target proved just too small.

It re-ran famous stinkers like “Cop Rock” and “Pink Lady & Jeff” as well as vintage David Letterman shows and “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.”

NBC clearly favored corporate-cousin Bravo for its quirky stuff – shows like “Queer Eye” and “Project Runway” – and Trio has long been rumored to be teetering on the edge.

It appears NBC is making way for a new channel, Sleuth, which will specialize in crime shows.