ITVs

ITVs, commonly referred to as the ITV network, is the United Kingdom’s primary commercial television system. The brand covers the flagship free-to-air channel ITV (formerly ITV1) and its digital channels ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4, as well as the streaming service ITVX. The acronym ITV stands for Independent Television, reflecting its origin as a competitor to the BBC’s public service broadcasts.

History and structure: The ITV network began in 1955 as a federation of regional franchise holders across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In the early 2000s, most regional franchises were consolidated under a single corporate umbrella, and in 2004 Granada and Carlton merged to form ITV plc. Since then, the regional brands have largely been merged into a national network, though regional news remains a scheduled feature. Regulation is overseen by Ofcom, with ITV required to meet public-service broadcasting standards as part of its licence.

Operations and programming: ITV provides a mix of entertainment, drama, factual programming, and sports, along with national and regional news produced by ITN for the network. The ITV slate includes long-running soaps, game shows, reality formats, and documentaries. Revenue is primarily generated from advertising sales and content licensing, supported by ITV Studios, the production arm responsible for creating content for ITV and other broadcasters worldwide. In 2022, ITV launched ITVX, a digital streaming service intended to complement its linear channels with on-demand content and an emphasis on streaming-enabled viewing.