Editing ITV plc

{{short description|British-based media company}}
{{About|a television channel operator|the nation-wide group|ITV (TV network)|the channel|ITV1|other uses|ITV (disambiguation){{!}}ITV}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = ITV plc
| logo = ITV plc 2025 logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2024
| former_name = 
| type = [[Public limited company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{LSE|ITV}}<br />[[FTSE 250 Index|FTSE 250]] component
| predecessors = {{plainlist|
* [[Granada plc]]
* [[Carlton Communications]]
  }}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2004|02|02|df=y}}
| location = London
| key_people = {{plainlist|
* [[Andy Cosslett|Andrew Cosslett]] (chairman)
* [[Carolyn McCall|Dame Carolyn McCall]] (Chief Executive)
  }}
| divisions = [[ITV Studios]]
| subsid = 
| website = {{URL|itvplc.com}}
| area_served = 
| industry = [[Mass media|Media]]
| products = {{plainlist|
* [[Broadcasting]]
* [[Television production]]
}}
| revenue = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]3,488&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/ITV%20Plc%20Full%20Year%20Results%202024%20-%20Release.pdf|title=Annual Results 2024|publisher=ITV plc |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>
| revenue_year = 
| operating_income = {{increase}}  [[Pound sterling|£]]318&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=results/>
| income_year = 
| net_income = {{increase}}  [[Pound sterling|£]]406&nbsp;million (2024)<ref name=results/>
| net_income_year = 
}}
'''ITV plc''' is a British media company that holds 13 of the 15 regional television licences that make up the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV network]] (Channel 3), the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom.

ITV plc is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]].

==History==
===Pre-acquisition===
ITV plc was the result of [[Granada plc|Granada]] purchasing [[Carlton Communications|Carlton]] following the various mergers and acquisitions between the companies of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network that had taken place from 1994 when the ownership rules were relaxed.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YXyvBwAAQBAJ&q=itv+1993+relaxation&pg=PA6|title=A History of Independent Television in Wales|first=Jamie |last=Medhurst|page=6|publisher=University of Wales Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-7083-2213-0}}</ref>

The first wave of mergers began with [[Yorkshire Television]] acquiring [[Tyne Tees Television]] in 1992, forming a parent group called [[Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television]].<ref name="ofcom">[http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/uk_television_sector/overview/key_dates.asp.html An Overview of Television in the UK] Ofcom, 2002</ref> In 1994, [[Carlton Communications]] – which had owned a 20% stake in [[Central Independent Television]] – acquired the remainder of the company<ref name="ofcom"/> and, because of Central's shareholdings, inherited a 20% stake in [[Meridian Broadcasting]]. Later that year, Granada acquired [[London Weekend Television]]<ref name="ofcom"/> through a hostile takeover worth in the region of £750&nbsp;million. MAI, which controlled [[Meridian Broadcasting]], acquired [[Anglia Television]];<ref name="ofcom"/> MAI became United News & Media after merging with United Newspapers – owners of ''The [[Daily Express]]'' in 1996.<ref name="ofcom"/> Ownership rules, that previously restricted ownership of ITV licences by one company to two outright, plus 20% in a third, were relaxed, and so Carlton went on to acquire [[Westcountry Television]]<ref name="ofcom"/> (later re-branding it Carlton, along with Central), Granada acquired Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television<ref name="ofcom"/> (with the parent group becoming Granada Media, later simply Granada) and United acquired [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]].<ref name="ofcom"/>
{{ITV franchisee mergers|float=right|caption=Diagram displaying consolidation of ITV franchisees into ITV plc}}

The idiosyncrasies and business model of the future ITV plc operation can be found in the way these new conglomerates operated their licences. Carlton re-branded all of its stations with its own name, creating a single identity across the whole expanse of its territory. By contrast, Granada and United, while keeping the licencees' names, centralised their continuity departments – Granada in [[Leeds]] and United in [[Southampton]]. All three, however, merged the network production operations of their franchises, creating Carlton Productions, Granada Content and United Productions.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jul/12/broadcasting Willis steps into new role at Granada] The Guardian, 12 July 2001</ref>

By the end of the 1990s, there were three dominating owners of the ITV franchises in England and Wales: [[Carlton Communications]], [[Granada Limited|Granada plc]] and [[United News and Media]]. In 2000, after an aborted merger attempt with Carlton, UNM decided to leave ITV and Granada bought all the UNM franchises,<ref name="ofcom"/> but sold HTV to Carlton in order to comply with the permitted audience percentage covered by a single broadcasting interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/carlton-buys-htv-634833.html |title=Carlton buys HTV |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=24 October 2000 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> It kept the production arm of [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]], however, renaming it Granada Bristol and moving it out of Bath Road to a new, smaller office in Whiteladies Road (near the [[BBC]]). This arm of the company closed in 2006, following later rationalisation of ITV's production operations. The last remaining independent ITV franchise in [[England and Wales]], [[Border Television]], had been bought by Capital Group in 2000, and was sold on to Granada in 2001,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/granada-to-buy-border-tv-assets-for-pound50m-if-capital-wins-bid-battle-721610.html |title=Granada to buy Border TV assets for £50m if Capital wins bid battle |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=17 April 2000 |access-date=18 April 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> with Border's radio assets being retained by [[GCap Media|Capital Radio plc]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/716361.stm |title=Capital agrees Border carve-up |publisher=BBC News |date=17 April 2000 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

===The acquisition===
[[File:ITV logo 1998 - 2006.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|Logo used from 2 February 2004 to 15 January 2006]]
In 2004, Granada purchased Carlton and renamed itself ITV plc, a single company for all ITV franchises in England and Wales.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/nov/15/itv.politicsandthemedia Carlton-Granada merger clears last hurdle] The Guardian, 2003</ref> One of the consequences of the merger was (according to the company) an over-capacity of studio facilities and production units around the country, which had previously been rivals, but were now all part of the same group. In order to make cost savings, several large regional headquarters, studio sites and programme departments closed and merged. Among the casualties were network production and studio facilities of Tyne Tees in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], Meridian in Southampton, Central in [[Nottingham]] and Anglia in [[Norwich]]. In all cases, ITV moved the regional franchisee to a new location complete with hi-tech facilities for news production, but with a minimal number of (physically smaller) studios and the loss of many jobs. Tyne Tees' factual department merged with Yorkshire's in [[Leeds]] (which has since closed and re-emerged as Shiver Productions);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shiver-productions.co.uk/index.php?page=what-we-do |title=what we do |publisher=Shiver Productions |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129175913/http://www.shiver-productions.co.uk/index.php?page=what-we-do |archive-date=29 January 2011 }}</ref> Meridian's factual and sport production moved to London; all network production in [[Nottingham]] was re-allocated to London, [[Manchester]] or [[Leeds]] (and the local ''[[Central Tonight|Central News]]'' studio moved to [[Birmingham]]), and Anglia Factual, reduced to a satellite operation of [[ITV Studios]] and primarily producing output for the international market or occasionally third parties in the UK, was eventually closed in January 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=ITV Studios to close Norwich base with loss of 35 jobs|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-16549399|access-date=25 January 2012|newspaper=BBC News|date=13 January 2012}}</ref>

===Post-acquisition===
Prior to the acquisition, and despite being rivals within ITV, Granada and Carlton had already been involved in several joint ventures, including the digital terrestrial television operator [[ITV Digital]] that went bankrupt, and collapsed in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bskyb-facing-legal-threat-over-ondigital-536186.html |title=BSkyB facing legal threat over Ondigital |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=17 August 2003 |access-date=18 April 2011}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> They also owned the digital channel [[ITV2]], which had launched in December 1998, and 65% of the (re-branded) [[ITV News Channel]], previously owned by ITN and was originally launched as the ITN News Channel. As well as consolidating its (now 40%) shareholding in ITN itself, the newly merged company was able to buy the final 35% stake in the ITV News Channel from ITN's original partners [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]] in April 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/35/itv-buys-ntls-share-in-news-station-itv-news |title=ITV buys NTL's share in news station ITV News |publisher=Cableforum.co.uk |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> In November the same year, and following a frantic last-minute deal with [[British Sky Broadcasting|BSkyB]] to buy its half of the [[ITV Digital Channels Ltd|Granada Sky Broadcasting]] joint venture, they launched the digital channel [[ITV3]], replacing [[Granada Plus]] which ITV plc closed down on satellite and cable. A year later they launched [[ITV4]]. However, due to multiplex issues (and the fact that it was losing money) the ITV News Channel controversially had its hours on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] reduced, and was finally closed down on 23 December 2005, with its Freeview space being taken over by replacements [[ITV4]] and [[CITV]], which launched in November 2005 and March 2006, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a43891/citv-channel-celebrates-first-birthday.html |title=CITV celebrates its first birthday |work=Digital Spy |location=UK |date=13 March 2007 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

On 27 April 2005, ITV plc bought [[S4C Digital Networks|SDN]], the [[Digital terrestrial television|digital terrestrial]] franchise holder of Multiplex A (now transmitting ten channels) from its shareholders, [[S4C]] and [[UBM plc|UBM]] for £134&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.broadcastnow.co.uk/1023493.article|title=ITV buys SDN for £134m|date=28 April 2005|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-date=9 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409112945/http://m.broadcastnow.co.uk/1023493.article|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2006, the participation channel [[ITV Play (channel)|ITV Play]] was launched. It was also an overnight block on ITV1. Following a series of scandals surrounding participation TV, the dedicated ITV Play channel was closed down in March 2007, followed by the late-night phone-in quiz shows on the ITV Network in December 2007, however the brand continued to be used for a time for part of the gaming section of [[itv.com]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/mar/13/broadcasting.ITV3 ITV Play digital channel axed] The Guardian, 13 March 2007</ref>

In August 2006, the company sold its 45% shareholding in [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3 Ireland]], which had been bought by Granada in 2001, to [[Doughty Hanson & Co]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/itv-to-sell-tv3-stake-to-doughty-hanson-1.794943|title=TV to sell TV3 stake to Doughty Hanson|date=23 August 2006|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>

===Reorganisation===
[[File:ITV logo.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|Logo used from 16 January 2006 to 13 January 2013]]
There were rumours of take-over and merger bids during 2006.  For example, on 9 November 2006, [[Arqiva|NTL]] announced that it had approached ITV plc about a proposed merger.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Ntl Incorporated Discussions with ITV plc |publisher=[[Arqiva|NTL]] |date=9 November 2006 |url=http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=874 |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113134817/http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=874 |archive-date=13 November 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|title=ITV and NTL 'in merger talks' |publisher=ITV plc |date=9 November 2006 |url=http://www.itvplc.com/itv/news/releases/pr2006/2006-11-09/ |access-date=6 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130073001/http://www.itvplc.com/itv/news/releases/pr2006/2006-11-09/ |archive-date=30 November 2006 }}</ref> The merger was effectively blocked by [[British Sky Broadcasting]] on 17 November 2006 when it bought a 17.9% stake in ITV plc for £940&nbsp;million,<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Welsh
  | first = James
  | title = Sky buys 17.9% of ITV
  | publisher=[[Digital Spy]]
  | date = 17 November 2006
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a39556/sky-buys-179-percent-of-itv.html
  | access-date =  6 December 2006 }}</ref> a move that attracted anger from NTL shareholder [[Richard Branson]]<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Wilkes
  | first = Neil
  | title = Sky/ITV: Branson statement in full
  | publisher=[[Digital Spy]]
  | date = 20 November 2006
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a39642/skyitv-branson-statement-in-full.html
  | access-date = 6 December 2006 }}</ref> and an investigation from media and telecoms regulator [[Ofcom]].<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Welsh
  | first = James
  | title = Ofcom examines impact of Sky's ITV stake
  | publisher=[[Digital Spy]]
  | date = 21 November 2006
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a39694/ofcom-examines-impact-of-skys-itv-stake.html
  | access-date = 6 December 2006 }}</ref>  On 6 December 2006, NTL announced that it had complained to the [[Office of Fair Trading]] about BSkyB's move. NTL stated that it had withdrawn its attempt to buy ITV plc, citing that it did not believe that there was any possibility to make a deal on favourable terms.<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Oatts
  | first = Joanne
  | title = NTL complains about Sky as it drops plans for ITV Ofcom
  | publisher=[[Digital Spy]]
  | date = 6 December 2006
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a40409/ntl-complains-about-sky-as-it-drops-plans-for-itv.html
  |access-date= 6 December 2006 }}</ref> At the same time as the NTL bid, [[RTL Group|RTL]], the then-owner of [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], was also rumoured to be preparing a bid for ITV plc, with the possibility of a stock-swap with BSkyB; the plan would have seen RTL acquiring BSkyB's stake in ITV plc (with the aim of further acquisitions of shares in the future) in exchange for BSkyB taking full control of Channel 5.<ref>{{Cite news
  | last = Oatts
  | first = Joanne
  | title = RTL to make ITV decision this week
  | publisher=[[Digital Spy]]
  | date = 16 November 2006
| url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a39466/rtl-to-make-itv-decision-this-week.html
  | access-date = 6 December 2006 }}</ref>
In the end, no movement was made on this possible deal and RTL sold Channel 5 to Richard Desmond's [[Northern & Shell]] Network in July 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/188789/Daily-Express-boss-beats-rivals-to-buy-Channel-5|title=Daily Express boss beats rivals to buy Channel 5|publisher=Daily Express|date=24 July 2010}}</ref>

The company then entered into a series of disposals of non-core activities: in March 2009 the company sold its investment in [[Friends Reunited]] (a website dedicated to reunited former school friends or colleagues in a number of countries) which it had acquired in December 2005.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|date=6 August 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8186840.stm|title= ITV in £25m Friends Reunited sale|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref> Also in May 2009 the company sold Carlton Screen Advertising (the largest cinema advertising business in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]] and now known as [[Wide Eye Media]]).<ref>{{cite web|author=Darren Davidson |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/788786/Carlton-Screen-Advertising-sold-joint-venture-500k/ |title=Carlton Screen Advertising sold to joint venture for £500k |publisher=Brandrepublic.com |access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>

In 2010, a large-scale business reorganisation, called the "five-year Transformation Plan" was launched. Thanks to stringent [[working capital]] management and cost management some of the set goals were already achieved in 2012. These include a ranking upgrade (from BB− to BB+), an increase in [[audience share]] and reduction of debt (from net debt of £730&nbsp;million at the end of 2008, to a positive net cash position of £16&nbsp;million at the end of the first quarter 2012).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfo-insight.com/human-capital-career/interviews/at-itv-all-new-rules-of-engagement/|title=Frankfurt Business Media|work=cfo-insight.com|access-date=16 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132537/http://www.cfo-insight.com/human-capital-career/interviews/at-itv-all-new-rules-of-engagement/|archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

[[File:ITV logo 2013.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|Logo used from 2013 to 2024; [[ITV1]] used this logo from 2013 to 2019.]]
In December 2013 the company sold its remaining shareholding in [[STV Group (Scotland)|STV Group plc]] (owner of the [[Scottish Television|Scottish]] and [[Grampian Television|Grampian]] ITV licences) which had been bought by Carlton in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/companies/tech/itv-sells-final-part-of-stake-in-stv-for-7-5m-1-3227652|title=ITV sells final part of stake in STV for £7.5m|publisher=The Scotsman|date=11 December 2014|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>

On 17 July 2014, BSkyB's 6.4% stake in ITV was sold to [[Liberty Global]], valued at £481&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clover |first=Julian |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/07/17/liberty-global-makes-481m-investment-in-itv/ |title=Liberty Global makes £481m investment in ITV |publisher=Broadband TV News |date=17 July 2014 |access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref>

On 19 October 2015, ITV purchased [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]] for £100m ensuring that 13 out of the 15 licences (it does not hold the two wholly in Scotland) were in its control.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/itv-buys-irish-broadcaster-utv-for-100m-a6700716.html|title=ITV buys Irish broadcaster UTV for £100m|publisher=Independent|date=20 October 2015 |access-date=29 November 2015}}</ref>

In July 2016 the company sold [[be3|UTV Ireland]] to [[Virgin Media]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/tv3-owner-virgin-media-buys-utv-ireland-for-10m-1.2718283|title=TV3 owner Virgin Media buys UTV Ireland for €10m|date=11 July 2016|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>

In August 2016, it was revealed that ITV had made an offer to acquire Canadian multinational film and television distributor [[Entertainment One]] for around £1&nbsp;billion. On 10 August 2016, it was announced that eOne had rejected the offer, considering it to be "fundamentally undervalued".<ref name="deadline-eoneitv">{{cite web|title=eOne Rejects $1.3B ITV Approach That "Fundamentally Undervalues" Company|url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/entertainment-one-rejects-takeover-bid-itv-one-billion-1201801335/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=10 August 2016|date=10 August 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, it was announced that ITV plc had acquired a majority stake in British Production company [[World Productions]], behind the hit BBC series ''[[Line of Duty]]''. As a result of the deal, World Productions is now part of ITV Studios.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-studios-acquires-line-duty-producer-world-productions|title=ITV Studios acquires Line of Duty Producer World Productions|work=Press Centre|access-date=3 September 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/global/itv-studios-takes-over-world-productions-1202406281/|title=ITV Studios Takes Over World Productions|last=Mitchell|first=Robert|date=2 May 2017|work=Variety|access-date=3 September 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, the company announced the arrival of ITVX, which it said would be Britain's first integrated advertising and subscription funded streaming platform, and would complement its catch-up service, ITV Hub, and would include access to BritBox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvx-announcement|title=ITVX - ITV announce brand new streaming platform to launch later this year|date=3 March 2022|website=TVZoneUK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/itv-launches-streaming-service-itvx-shows-will-air-months-before-given-linear-slot-full-year-results-show-record-ad-spend-1234969642/|title=ITV Launches Streaming Service ITVX; Shows Will Air Months Before Being Given Linear Slot; Full Year Results Show Record Ad Spend|first1=Max|last1=Goldbart|date=3 March 2022}}</ref>

On 1 June 2022, it was announced that it will be demoted from the FTSE 100, and became a constituent of the [[FTSE 250 Index]] on 20 June.<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news |last1=Wearden |first1=Graeme |title=ITV and Royal Mail to drop out of FTSE 100 in reshuffle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/01/itv-and-royal-mail-to-drop-out-of-ftse-100-in-reshuffle |access-date=2 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=2 June 2022}}</ref>

On 28 February 2024, ITV plc revealed a corporate brand refresh, reinforcing its three strategic pillars of expanding Studios, supercharging streaming and optimising broadcast. The new logo is a new coloured version of the logo introduced in 2013. The colours of the logo represent the streaming service, ([[ITVX]]) The main channel, (ITV 1) and [[ITV Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itv-details-corporate-brand-refresh-reinforce-its-three-strategic-pillars|title=ITV details corporate brand refresh to reinforce its three strategic pillars|work=ITV Press Centre|date=28 February 2024}}</ref>

On 23 November 2024, [[Sky News]] reported that [[CVC Capital Partners]], [[TF1]], [[RedBird Capital Partners]], [[All3Media]], [[Mediawan]] and [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|KKR]] had been linked to a potential takeover bid for ITV plc and a possible break-up of core assets such as ITV Studios and ITVX.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/itv-back-in-spotlight-as-suitors-screen-potential-bids-13258866|work=[[Sky News]]|title=ITV back in spotlight as suitors screen potential bids|date=2024-11-23}}</ref>

On 30 January 2025, [[Reuters]] reported that RedBird IMI were in early-stage talks with ITV plc to merge the [[All3Media]] and [[ITV Studios]] production businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/itv-redbird-imi-hold-early-stage-talks-merge-production-businesses-sources-say-2025-01-30/|work=[[Reuters]]|title=Exclusive: ITV, RedBird IMI in early-stage talks to merge production businesses, sources say|date=2025-01-30}}</ref>

On 27 April 2025, [[Reuters]] reported that [[Banijay Entertainment]] is in early-stage talks for a takeover offer for British broadcaster ITV plc.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/frances-banijay-explores-takeover-bid-uks-itv-ft-reports-2025-04-27/|work=[[Reuters]]|title=France's Banijay explores takeover bid for UK's ITV|date=2025-04-27}}</ref>

==Operations==
===Organisation===
ITV plc is divided into two divisions:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itvplc.com/about/what-we-do|title=What we do|publisher=ITV (TV network)|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>
* Media and entertainment, which operates the TV networks (including the [[ITV News]] Group, which runs the ITV regional licensees)
*[[ITV Studios]], which comprises both UK and international production, ITV's facilities businesses and Global Entertainment which exploits programme rights.

===Network licences===
[[File:ITV-branded franchises map 2002-2013.svg|thumb|ITV-owned licences in 2004 (Channel TV since 2011)]]
[[File:ITV-branded franchises map 2020.svg|thumb|ITV-owned licences since 2016]]

Through ITV Broadcasting Ltd, ITV plc holds 13 of a total 15 [[ITV (TV network)|ITV network]] licences, with [[STV (TV channel)|STV]] holding two ITV licences in Scotland. ITV plc holds all licences in England and Wales, and the single ones in both the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/53800/itv-networking.pdf|title=Review of ITV Networking Arrangements|publisher=Ofcom|page=1|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409111542/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/53800/itv-networking.pdf|archive-date=9 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

* Owned by [[Granada plc]] until 2004:
** [[North West England]]: Granada Television. Service now named [[ITV Granada]].
** [[London]] (on weekends): London Weekend Television. Now part of the [[ITV London]] service.
** [[North East England]]: Tyne Tees Television. Service now named [[ITV Tyne Tees]].
** [[East of England]]: Anglia Television. Service now named [[ITV Anglia]].
** [[Yorkshire]], [[Lincolnshire]] and North [[Norfolk]]: Yorkshire Television. Service now named [[ITV Yorkshire]].
** [[Anglo-Scottish border|English-Scottish border]] and [[Isle of Man]]: Border Television. Service now named [[ITV Border]] (broadcasting for the Isle of Man was taken over by ITV Granada).
** [[Southern England|South]] and [[South East England]]: Meridian Broadcasting. Service now named [[ITV Meridian]].
* Owned by [[Carlton Communications plc]] until 2004:
** London (on weekdays): Carlton Television. Now part of the [[ITV London]] service.
** [[English Midlands|Midlands]]: Central Independent Television. Service now named [[ITV Central]].
** [[South West England]]: Westcountry Television. The service was renamed [[ITV Westcountry]] until 2009, before it was merged with ITV West to form the new non-franchise ITV West & Westcountry region (rebranded as [[ITV West Country]] shortly after). This service became a licence in its own right from 1 January 2014 when it split from Wales and has an opt-out for the western sub-region (formerly the Westcountry region).
** [[West of England]] and [[Wales]]: HTV (Harlech Television). The franchise was renamed [[ITV Wales & West]], since it has traditionally held a "dual-region" licence for two areas, each one with its own service: ITV West (now the eastern sub-region of [[ITV West Country]]) and [[ITV Cymru Wales]]. From 1 January 2014 the dual-region licence was split into two separate licences for Wales and South West England (combining the former West and Westcountry regions).
* Owned by [[Wireless Group|UTV Media plc]] until 2016:
** [[Northern Ireland]]: [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]]
* Former independently owned:
** [[Channel Islands]]: Channel Television, service now named [[ITV Channel Television]] (since 2011).

ITV plc is also the sole owner of the ITV national [[breakfast television]] franchise [[ITV Breakfast]], formerly known as [[GMTV]], which airs and produces ''[[Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme)|Good Morning Britain]]'', and ''[[Lorraine (TV programme)|Lorraine]]''.

===Channels===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Channel
!Type
!Launch date
!Purpose
|-
|[[ITV1]]/[[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]]
|Network licence in 13 of the 15 ITV regions
|22 September 1955 – 14 September 1962
|Flagship ITV channel
|- 
|[[ITV2]]
| rowspan="4" |Wholly owned
|7 December 1998
|Aimed at the 16–34 age group
|-
|[[ITV3]]
|1 November 2004
|Repeats of ITV dramas
|-
|[[ITV4]]
|1 November 2005
|Sports, cult classic films, US dramas and ITV action shows
|-
|[[ITVBe]]
|8 October 2014
|Reality TV & unscripted shows
|}

ITV plc wholly owns all of its channels through [[ITV Digital Channels]] apart from ITV1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Digital Channels |url=https://www.itv.com/commissioning/articles/digital-channels-slabewht-dj9f4d9z |access-date=8 April 2017 |publisher=ITV (TV network)}}</ref> ITV plc also operates [[Timeshift channel|timeshift services]] and [[HDTV|HD]] feeds for [[ITV1 HD|ITV1]], ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and ITVBe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/catch-up-tv-kills-the-1-channel|title=Catch-up TV kills the +1 channel|work=RXTV |publisher=RX RV|date=22 March 2022|access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref>

===Children's television blocks===
ITV plc runs children's programming through children's television blocks. First is the long running children's block [[CITV]] (formerly known as Children's ITV) that launched 3 January 1983 on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. Currently the block is broadcast on [[ITV2]] after being moved 2 September 2023, the morning after the closure of the CITV Channel. It is currently being broadcasts between 5am and 9am every day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thornham |first=Marc |date=24 August 2023 |title=Changes to ITV1 and ITV2 after CITV closure |url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2023/changes-to-itv1-and-itv2-after-citv-closure/ |access-date=2023-09-02 |website=RXTV info}}</ref> 
The second is the dedicated preschool block, [[LittleBe]] that launched on 3 September 2018, and ended on 31 May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2024/broadcasting-u-turns-of-2024/|title=Broadcasting U-turns of 2024|website=RXTV|date=2025-01-01|access-date=2025-01-03}}</ref> It was broadcast between 9am and 12am every day on [[ITVBe]]. The launch of this block was to be a replacement for its predecessor called Mini CITV, originally launched 7 January 2014 on the CITV Channel. Mini CITV ended 7 January 2014 when the CITV Channel removed all preschool programming from both its weekday and weekend schedules with the exception of ''[[Sooty (2011 TV series)|Sooty]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://tbivision.com/2018/07/04/itv-set-to-reintroduce-pre-school-block/|title=ITV set to reintroduce pre-school block|date=2018-07-04|website=TBI Vision|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-08}}</ref>

===Streaming===
ITV Catch Up was rebranded as the ITV Player on 5 December 2008.<ref name="ITV Player rebrand">{{cite web |date=5 December 2008 |title=ITV's Catch Up rebranded ITV Player |url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/867729/ITVs-Catch-rebranded-ITV-Player/ |publisher=Media Week}}</ref> On 23 November 2015, the app and website were rebranded as [[ITVX#ITV_Hub|ITV Hub]]. A paid subscription service allows users to watch ad-free and download content.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ITV Hub+ - All of the action. None of the ads. |language=en |work=ITV Hub |url=https://www.itv.com/hub/plus |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>

In November 2022, ITV announced a new streaming service to replace ITV Hub called [[ITVX]]. Launching on 8 December 2022, ITVX provides archive programming for which ITV plc owns the license, live events, and exclusive programming.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ITVX the UK's freshest streaming service to launch on 8th December |url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itvx-uks-freshest-streaming-service-launch-8th-december |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Press Centre |language=en}}</ref> There will be a free ad-supported tier and a premium subscription which will be ad-free and allow access to [[BritBox]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is ITVX? Launch date speculation, prices, shows, BritBox news |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/itvx-start-date-prices-shows/ |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=Radio Times |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
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