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ITV Digital Channels
ITV Digital Channels
from Wikipedia

ITV Digital Channels Limited (formerly known as Granada Sky Broadcasting) is a wholly owned subsidiary of British broadcaster ITV plc.

Key Information

It was set up in December 1995 and operated until 2004 as a joint venture between Granada plc and British Sky Broadcasting to launch a range of television channels broadcasting the Granada and LWT archives on the Sky satellite platform, as well as other digital platforms such as ITV Digital (closed on 1 May 2002), NTL and Telewest (both later merged to form Virgin Media).

On 2 February 2004, Granada plc merged with Carlton Communications to form ITV plc, which fully purchased ITV Digital Channels in November of that year.

History

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1995–2002: Launch, digital expansion and rebrands

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ITV digital channels viewing share between 2000 and 2008

On 13 December 1995, Granada plc and BSkyB agreed to create a joint venture to operate four services on Sky and other cable platforms.[1] The services were:

  • Granada Plus, an archive channel using the Granada and LWT archives (de-branded from Granada on 9 September 2002)
  • Granada Men & Motors, a channel aimed at men, focused on motoring and erotic content (de-branded from Granada on 12 August 2001)
  • Granada Good Life, a women's lifestyle channel (renamed to Breeze on 1 May 1998)
  • Granada Talk TV, a talk shows channel (closed on 31 August 1997 due to low ratings)

The GSkyB portfolio greatly increased its reach with the launch of ONdigital, which Granada and Carlton, another dominant ITV rights holder, were funding, in October and November 1998. Granada Plus and Men & Motors performed well in ratings, but Breeze struggled to attract viewers, leading to budget cuts that resulted in original programming being cut and 60 jobs being lost. In December 2001, the decision was made to close the channel with a gradual closure across digital platforms. It was finally closed on 30 April 2002 to honour contracts with Telewest and NTL.

Throughout 2001 and 2002, the channels began to disassociate from Granada branding. Men & Motors received a major rebrand in August 2001, and the Granada brand was dropped from Plus in September 2002.

2003–2004: Uncertain future

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In late November 2003, the future of GSkyB was thrown into uncertainty as Granada and Carlton – soon to merge as ITV plc – looked to increase their multichannel presence. ITV Gold was conceived as a new archive channel similar to Plus, but over time this evolved to ITV3, with Plus' first run rights to archive drama being sought after for the new channel. ITV was also negotiating with Sky over carriage of ITV3, eventually reaching an impasse due to the lack of EPG space on some Sky Digiboxes. It was later announced with carriage on Freeview, NTL and Telewest, but with no Sky carriage. Many had expected GSkyB to either be sold or closed entirely, an option ITV considered as it began the sale of non-core assets.

2004–present: ITV plc control and multichannel expansion

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On 1 November 2004, ITV plc agreed to purchase BSkyB's stake in GSkyB for £10 million. The deal included the slot that Granada Plus was broadcasting on, which ITV used to broadcast its new ITV3 channel which replaced Plus on the same day.[2] The negotiations that led to ITV plc taking sole control of GSkyB, closing Plus and launching ITV3 on digital satellite were apparently completed just hours before the new channel started broadcasting. On 8 November, Granada Sky Broadcasting was renamed ITV Digital Channels Limited, shortly after the closure of Granada Plus left Men & Motors as the sole survivor of the original four channels. As part of ITV's buy-out of Sky's shareholding, Sky would have received 49.5% of any proceeds (net of liabilities) from any future sale of Men & Motors.[2]

On 2 May 2005, Men & Motors launched as a free-to-air channel on the Freeview digital terrestrial television service. It was rumoured that ITV plc would replace it with ITV4, another men's channel, when it launched later that year on 1 November, echoing the launch of ITV3 in 2004. However, after better than expected performance from Men & Motors as a free-to-air channel, both channels continued and ITV plc cut the hours of the ITV News Channel to make way for ITV4 and CITV instead. The news channel closed on 23 December of that year with its remaining bandwidth used for CITV.

Although ITV4 started broadcasting from the Astra satellite on 1 November, it was not placed on the Sky EPG until 7 November. Because of this, some ITV4 sports programming was simulcast on Men & Motors under the ITV4 on m&m strand. On 23 February 2006, despite the previous decision not to close Men & Motors, fresh rumours over the channel's future began to circulate due to poorer than expected performance from ITV4.[3] In April 2006, Men & Motors left Freeview to make way for the launch of ITV Play, and much of its content was moved over to ITV4. ITV intended to dispose of the channel as a non-core asset, but it ultimately closed on Virgin Media on 25 March 2010, and finally closed on Sky and Freesat on 1 April, to make way for a permanent EPG position for ITV HD.

In 2014, ITV's portfolio of channels was expanded with the launch of ITV Encore, a drama channel, and ITVBe, a reality and lifestyle channel. The launch of the latter lead to ITV2's repositioning as a youth-focused entertainment channel. In 2018, ITV closed the Encore channel and repositioned its content to the ITV Hub online service. In 2021, commissions for ITV2, ITVBe and CITV were altered in that they would debut first on the ITV Hub, then on the linear channels, whilst ITV2 was given a wider brief for producing factual content.

The CITV channel closed on 1 September 2023, with programming moved to streaming service ITVX.[4] A daily programming block was introduced on ITV2 from 2 September 2023, from 05:00 to 09:00, using the "CITV" brand.

Channels

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Current

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ITV operates the following digital television channels:

  • ITV2 (including ITV2 +1 and HD) – General entertainment and reality
  • ITV3 (including ITV3 +1 and HD) – Drama and movies
  • ITV4 (including ITV4 +1 and HD) – Sports and entertainment
  • ITV Quiz – Quiz shows and entertainment

Former

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GSkyB's logo banner used from 1996 to 1998
  • Plus – Launched as Granada Plus on 1 October 1996, showing entertainment programmes from the archives of Granada, LWT and its subsidiaries. Closed on 1 November 2004 to allow ITV3 to launch on Sky.
  • Granada Breeze – Launched as Granada Good Life on 1 October 1996, a lifestyle channel divided into four 3-hour segments: 'Food & Wine', 'Health & Beauty', 'TV High Street' and 'Home & Garden'. Relaunched on 1 May 1998 in order to improve ratings but closed on 30 April 2002.
  • Men & Motors – Launched on 1 October 1996, a channel aimed at men focused on motoring and erotic content. Last of the original Granada Sky Broadcasting channels to close on 1 April 2010.
  • Granada Talk TV – A debate channel launched on 1 October 1996. Closed on 31 August 1997.
  • ITV Play – Interactive gaming channel launched in April 2006. It closed in March 2007
  • ITV Encore (and ITV Encore +1) – A drama channel launched on 9 June 2014. Closed on 1 May 2018.
  • The Store – A shopping channel, which was a joint-venture with John Mills Limited. Removed from Freeview in January 2019.
  • ITV Box Office – A pay-per-view sports channel. Closed on 24 January 2020.
  • Merit – A short-lived lifestyle channel. Sold to Sky on 20 August 2020.
  • CITV – For children under 12 years old. Closed as a channel on 1 September 2023. Programming moved to ITVX and a daily morning slot on ITV2.
  • ITVBe (including ITVBe +1 and HD) – Reality television and lifestyle launched in 2014 as a spinoff of ITV2. The channel closed on 9 June 2025 and was replaced by an all quiz channel.

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
ITV Digital Channels are a suite of channels in the operated by , complementing the flagship ITV network by targeting niche audiences with specialized programming in , , sports, , and children's content. Launched progressively from the late onward as part of the UK's expansion, these channels have evolved to include both linear broadcasts and integration with the ITVX streaming platform, reflecting ITV's shift toward multi-channel and on-demand delivery. The core portfolio consists of ITV2, aimed at younger viewers with reality shows, comedy, and light entertainment; ITV3, focusing on classic dramas, movies, and documentaries for older audiences; ITV4, oriented toward men with sports coverage, action series, and US imports; and ITV Quiz, featuring quiz and game shows such as Deal or No Deal. ITV2 debuted in 1998 as a showcase for ITV's popular repeats and original youth-targeted content, while ITV3 and ITV4 followed in 2004 and 2005, respectively, to capitalize on digital multiplex opportunities post-analog expansion. ITVBe, a lifestyle channel emphasizing female-skewing formats like The Only Way Is Essex, operated from 2014 until its closure on 9 June 2025, when it was replaced by ITV Quiz. Children's programming was historically provided via CITV, which began as an afternoon block on ITV in 1983 before launching as a dedicated digital channel in 2006, but ceased linear broadcasts on 1 September 2023 to focus on ITVX's streaming service for kids. These channels collectively reach millions of viewers annually, contributing to ITV's public service obligations while driving advertising revenue through targeted demographics, and have increasingly incorporated fast channels (FAST) and global distribution via ITVX and partnerships.

History

Origins and launch (1995–2002)

Granada Sky Broadcasting was established as a joint venture between Granada plc and British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) in late 1995 to develop and operate a suite of satellite television channels aimed at expanding the reach of Granada's programming beyond traditional terrestrial broadcasting. The venture formalized the partnership's commitment to digital expansion, leveraging Granada's content library and BSkyB's satellite infrastructure to compete in the emerging pay-TV market. On 1 October 1996, the joint venture launched its initial four channels: Granada Plus, a general entertainment channel featuring archived Granada productions; Men & Motors, focused on men's lifestyle and automotive content; Granada Good Life, dedicated to health, lifestyle, and cookery programs; and Granada Talk TV, which aired talk shows and debates. These channels were distributed via BSkyB's satellite platform, marking an early foray into themed digital offerings for UK viewers. Early operational challenges emerged quickly, with Granada Talk TV proving unviable due to persistently low ratings and high production costs, leading to its closure on 31 August 1997 after less than a year on air. The channel's final broadcasts were replaced by a of to cover major news events, highlighting the financial strain on the nascent lineup. Meanwhile, Good Life struggled with underwhelming viewership, prompting a rebranding to Granada Breeze on 1 May 1998; this overhaul abolished segmented programming blocks in favor of a unified schedule targeted at female audiences, alongside budget reductions to stem losses. In a parallel development, ITV launched its first dedicated digital channel, , on 7 December 1998, positioned as a companion to the main ITV network with content skewed toward younger viewers through repeats, original commissions, and lighter entertainment formats. The joint venture's ambitions expanded significantly with the terrestrial digital service ONdigital, launched by and on 15 November 1998 following BSkyB's forced exit from the due to regulatory concerns over media dominance. This platform dramatically broadened access, providing coverage to approximately 70% of households from the outset and bundling the existing Granada channels alongside ITV and services, plus premium options like . Subscriber growth was modest initially, reaching 110,000 by early 1999, but the service faced stiff competition from BSkyB's more established Sky Digital satellite offering. As financial pressures mounted through 2001 and into , the branding was phased out from the digital channels amid efforts to unify under the national ITV identity, reflecting broader corporate restructuring between and Carlton. ONdigital was rebranded as in July 2001 to leverage ITV's established brand and stem subscriber erosion, but the platform continued to hemorrhage money, with cumulative losses exceeding £800 million by early . Intense rivalry from Sky Digital, which boasted over 5 million subscribers compared to 's 1.2 million, compounded issues of high infrastructure costs, technical glitches, and uncompetitive sports rights deals. On 1 May , entered administration and collapsed under the weight of unsustainable debt and dwindling subscriptions, resulting in the immediate shutdown of most channels—including Plus, Breeze, and Men & Motors—while survived as a service on alternative platforms.

Crisis and transition (2003–2004)

The collapse of ITV Digital's pay-TV service on May 1, 2002, marked a severe , with the company accruing debts exceeding £1 billion after its parent companies, and Carlton, withdrew support following administration proceedings initiated on March 27. This led to the immediate cessation of subscription-based digital terrestrial broadcasts, resulting in the temporary suspension of channels such as Granada Plus, Men & Motors, and Granada Breeze on the DTT platform, though some continued availability on cable and . Amid the turmoil, emerged as the sole surviving ITV-branded channel from the original lineup, maintaining status on while expanding distribution to cable and platforms to ensure ongoing accessibility. The period of instability prompted significant structural changes within the ITV network. On February 2, 2004, Granada and Carlton Communications completed their merger to form ITV plc, consolidating ownership of ITV's core assets and providing a unified framework to address the lingering effects of the digital venture's failure. This reorganization set the stage for ITV plc to regain full control over its multichannel operations later that year. On November 1, 2004, acquired BSkyB's 49.5% stake in the Granada Sky Broadcasting for £10 million, securing complete ownership of the digital channels portfolio and enabling strategic repositioning. As part of this restructuring, the remaining pre-2002 channel Granada Plus was closed on the same day, freeing up capacity for new offerings and marking the end of several legacy services. Shortly thereafter, on November 8, 2004, the entity formerly known as Granada Sky Broadcasting was renamed ITV Digital Channels Limited, reflecting 's full integration and control.

Growth and diversification (2005–present)

Following the formation of in 2004, the company began expanding its digital portfolio to capitalize on the growing availability of Freeview and other platforms, launching on 1 November 2004 as a channel focused on dramas, films, and repeats targeted at viewers over 35. This marked the start of a diversification strategy emphasizing niche audiences, with replacing the earlier Granada Plus service and quickly attracting nearly 500,000 viewers for its debut program. In May 2005, Men & Motors became available on Freeview, broadening access to its content on motoring and male-oriented programming, though it was later removed from the platform in April 2006 to accommodate new launches. ITV continued this expansion with the launch of on 1 November 2005, a channel aimed primarily at male viewers featuring sports, factual programming, and imports, which achieved the strongest digital channel debut at the time with a 3.32% multichannel share in its first evening. Shortly after, on 19 April 2006, debuted as a participation offering quizzes and phone-ins, taking over the Freeview slot previously held by Men & Motors. However, amid low viewership and regulatory scrutiny over premium-rate services, the ceased operations on 23 December 2005—earlier than initially planned—allowing its resources to integrate into ITV1's news output. By 2007, ITV Play was shuttered on 16 March, replaced by on Sky and Freeview to prioritize services over interactive formats. Men & Motors persisted on pay platforms until its full closure on 1 April 2010, when its slot was repurposed for ITV HD to meet rising demand for high-definition content. This period reflected ITV's strategic pivot toward core channels, emphasizing Freeview accessibility to reach broader audiences without subscription barriers. In 2014, ITV introduced ITV Encore on 9 June as a linear channel offering box-set style access to dramas and archived series, available initially on and later expanding to other platforms. Complementing this, launched on 8 October 2014 as a lifestyle channel targeted at women, featuring reality and unscripted content such as . These additions diversified the portfolio amid the rise of on-demand viewing, but by 2018, ITV Encore closed on 1 May, transitioning its content to the ITV Hub streaming service to align with shifting consumer habits. The late 2010s and early 2020s saw further adaptations to declining linear television viewership, with ITV prioritizing integration with its streaming platform. On 1 September 2023, closed after four decades, relocating children's programming to Kids and select slots, as younger audiences increasingly favored on-demand options over scheduled broadcasts. In 2025, ended operations on 9 June, replaced by ITV Quiz—a dedicated channel for game shows and quizzes without a service—to refresh the lineup for interactive, evergreen content. This launch on the same date underscored ITV's ongoing focus on genre-specific channels. Underpinning these changes, ITV plc's strategy since the mid-2000s has emphasized Freeview penetration for mass reach, evolving into a "More Than TV" approach by the that integrates linear channels with , launched in December 2022 as a free streaming service with premium ad-free tiers. By 2025, digital advertising revenues via grew 15% year-on-year, reflecting successful adaptation to streaming amid linear TV's contraction, with cumulative investments expected to recoup by year-end.

Channels

Current channels

ITV's current digital channels form a portfolio of free-to-air services complementing the main ITV network, each targeting specific demographics with tailored programming available across major UK platforms including Freeview, , , , and streaming via . ITV2, launched on 7 December 1998, focuses on youth-oriented entertainment, featuring series such as Love Island, contemporary comedies, and dramatic content aimed at viewers aged 16-34. It remains the leading commercial digital channel for this demographic, holding the top position for the eighth consecutive year in 2024. The channel is accessible on Freeview channel 6, channel 118, channel 112, and . ITV3, which debuted on 1 November 2004, specialises in dramas, soap opera repeats like classic episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and nostalgic programming geared toward audiences over 50. It operates as a free-to-air service on platforms including Freeview channel 10, Sky channel 117, Virgin Media channel 113, and ITVX, achieving a monthly reach of 11.5 million viewers in 2024 and ranking as a consistent top performer among digital channels for broad audiences. Launched on 1 November 2005, ITV4 targets male viewers with a schedule emphasising live sports coverage—including football matches from the and Carabao Cup, motorsport such as , , and international tournaments like the —alongside documentaries and action films. The channel broadcasts on Freeview channel 26, Sky channel 120, Virgin Media channel 124, and . ITV Quiz, introduced on 9 June 2025, is dedicated to quiz shows and game show repeats, including popular formats like The Chase and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, with an emphasis on interactive and general knowledge-based entertainment broadcast from 9:00am to 1:00am daily. It lacks a dedicated timeshift service and occupies the former ITVBe slot on Freeview channel 28, Freesat channel 119, channels 131 (Q) and 125 (Glass), Virgin Media channel 119, and .

Former channels

ITV's early digital expansion in the 1990s included several niche channels under the Sky Broadcasting (GSB) joint venture, many of which were discontinued due to financial pressures and strategic shifts following the collapse of in 2002. Plus, launched on 1 October 1996, focused on general entertainment repeats from the and LWT archives. It ceased broadcasting on 1 November 2004 after eight years on air, replaced by the newly launched as part of a broader to consolidate ITV's portfolio. Men & Motors, also debuting on 1 October 1996, targeted men's interests with programming on motoring, , and shows. The channel was closed on 1 April 2010, deemed non-strategic amid ITV's focus on core entertainment and HD expansion, with its slot repurposed for ITV HD. Granada Breeze, initially launched as Granada Good Life on 1 October 1996 and rebranded to Breeze on 1 May 1998, offered women's content including , , and advice shows. It was shut down on 30 April 2002 amid the ITV Digital crisis and persistently low ratings, reflecting the challenges of sustaining niche audiences in the early digital era. Granada Talk TV, another GSB launch on 1 October 1996, specialized in talk shows and current affairs discussions. It closed after less than a year on 31 August 1997 due to poor performance and insufficient viewer engagement. The originated as the News Channel, launching on 1 August 2000 to provide 24-hour news coverage. It was rebranded as in 2002 following ITV's acquisition of full ownership from . The service struggled against competitors like BBC News 24 and , closing early on 23 December 2005—ahead of an initial January 2006 plan—due to low audiences, with content integrated into main bulletins to streamline operations. ITV Play, an interactive gaming and quiz channel, launched on 19 April 2006, featuring phone-in participation shows. It was discontinued on 13 March 2007 following scandals over premium-rate phone lines, significant revenue drops, and regulatory scrutiny, with the slot converted to . ITV Encore, a premium channel, launched on 9 2014 exclusively on , showcasing box sets and original British dramas like . It closed as a linear channel on 1 May 2018, transitioning content to on-demand platforms like ITV Hub (now ) to align with streaming priorities and reduce linear costs. ITVBe, aimed at women with lifestyle and reality programming such as , launched on 8 October 2014. It ceased operations on 9 June 2025, replaced by ITV Quiz to prioritize high-engagement formats, with key content migrating to ITV2. CITV, ITV's children's channel, which launched as a dedicated digital channel on 11 March 2006 following the collapse of in 2002, broadcast dedicated kids' programming including animations and live-action series. It closed on 1 September 2023, with output shifted to on-demand Kids and slots on to optimize linear schedules amid streaming growth. Among shorter-lived ventures, ITV Box Office, a pay-per-view service for events like , ceased on 24 January 2020 due to declining viability and low uptake, contributing to reduced revenue. Merit, a brief channel launched by ITV on 29 2020 sharing time with other services, closed on 17 September 2020 after less than two months, with its Freeview slot sold to for relaunch.

References

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