ITV is a commercial TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 as Independent Television under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority (ITA, then after the Sound Broadcasting Act 1972, Independent Broadcasting Authority, now Ofcom) to provide competition to the long established BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK. Since the passing of the Broadcasting Act 1990 its legal name has been Channel 3, to distinguish it from the other analogue channels at the time, namely BBC 1, BBC 2 and Channel 4. In part, the number 3 was assigned as television sets would usually be tuned so that the regional ITV station would be on the third button, with the other stations being allocated to the number within their name.
ITV is a network of television channels that operate regional television services as well as sharing programmes between each other to be displayed on the entire network. In recent years, several of these companies have merged so currently the fifteen franchises are in the hands of two companies.
The ITV network is to be distinguished from ITV plc, the company that resulted from the merger of Granada plc and Carlton Communications in 2004 and which holds the Channel 3 broadcasting licences in England, Wales, southern Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland. With the exception of Northern Ireland, the ITV brand is the brand used by ITV plc for the Channel 3 service in these areas. In Northern Ireland, ITV plc uses the brand name UTV. STV Group plc, uses the STV brand for its two franchises of central and northern Scotland.
ITV
ITV (previously ITV1 between 2001 and 2013) is the flagship television channel of ITV plc in the United Kingdom.
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc.
ITV3
ITV3 is an entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom that is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc.
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005.
STV
STV is the brand used by both ITV licensees in Northern and Central Scotland, formerly known as Grampian Television (now legally STV North) and Scottish Television (now legally STV Central) respectively.
UTV
UTV (formerly Ulster Television) is a commercial television broadcaster in Northern Ireland owned and operated by ITV plc.
ITVBe
ITVBe is a British entertainment, lifestyle and reality television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc.
ITV Encore
ITV Encore is a British drama television channel in the United Kingdom that is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc.
CITV
CITV (short for Children’s ITV or Children’s Independent Television) is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc.
ITV Breakfast
ITV Breakfast Limited (previously known as GMTV Limited) is the national ITV breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc in November 2009.
ITV: Regions
ITV is a network of television channels that operate regional television services as well as sharing programmes between each other to be displayed on the entire network.
ITV Weather
ITV Weather is the national forecast shown on UK terrestrial network ITV, and is provided by the Met Office.
ITV Business
ITV Plc made some forays into new channels and businesses in the late 1990s.
ITV Play
ITV Play was a 24/7 participation television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV plc. The ITV Play name continued on the ITV Network until December 2007.Page Updated: 21st May, 2017