ITV plc

From Media UK's The Knowledge. Last update: 19:24, 5 Jan 2006 by James Hatts. Based on work by Paul Jamieson, James Cridland and Stuart Pinfold.

ITV plc was formed in February 2004 the through the merger of Granada Media and Carlton Communications, who between them held 11 of the 15 regional ITV Channel 3 licences.

The company has three main divisions: Broadcasting, Granada (production) and the ITV News Group.

ITV plc's channel portfolio is made up of ITV1 (the brand for Channel 3 in England and Wales) and the UK-wide channels ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and Men and Motors. The ITV News Channel closed in December 2005.

ITV1 is the biggest commercial television network in the UK, made up of all the Channel 3 licences in England and Wales.

ITV2 is the UK's fastest growing channel over the last two years. A national channel which has a mix of extra coverage of major ITV1 events, an injection of new entertainment shows, ITV1 favourites, plus movies and football.

ITV3 is the newest addition to the company's ITV-branded channel portfolio, showcasing contemporary British drama from the extensive ITV programme library in addition to films and US acquired series.

In November 2004 ITV plc bought the 49 per cent stake it didn't own of Granada Sky Broadcasting (GSB) which owns the Men and Motors channel. The channel was relaunched in May 2005 and made available on Freeview for the first time.

ITV plc also holds a 75 per cent stake in GMTV, the holder of the Channel 3 breakfast licence between 0600 and 0925 daily), 28 per cent of SMG who own Scottish TV and Grampian TV (the ITV franchise holders in Central and Northern Scotland respectively) and a stake in TV3 - Ireland's largest commercial broadcaster.

ITV plc holds 40 per cent of the shares of ITN, the ITV network's nominated news provider.

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