The ITV television network of the United Kingdom is divided into a number of geographical regions.
Since 2002, all regions share the same programming except for regional news, weather, advertising and some local political content. Before then, the regions were independent stations, each with its own schedule and branding.
Current regions
Map of the sub-regions, coded to the list below
The table below lists the current 14 regions and 23 sub-regions for ITV and its two associated channels, the timeshifted ITV +1 and the high-definitionITV HD.[1][2][3]
While the main SD channels (ITV1, UTV, and STV) on the Freeview platform provide a service for all 23 sub-regions, some sub-regional services are not available on some of the other channels and platforms, and another service is substituted instead, as indicated in the table.
Most Freeview transmitter areas overlap to some extent, so ITV regional services can often be received beyond the service areas indicated. Regional and sub-regional news and weather coverage may extend to include overlap areas.
The other ITV channels such as ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4, are not divided into regions, and each broadcasts a single service across the country.
^ a b c d e fVirgin Media is not available in the Border (Scotland), Channel or STV (Aberdeen and the North) regions
^ a bOn Sky, ITV +1 London is on channel 973 in STV regions
^ a b cformerly known as "West Country (east)" and earlier as "West"
^ a b cformerly known as "West Country (west)" and earlier as "Westcountry"
History
Regional branding 1955–2006
Independent Television began as a franchised network of independently owned regional companies that were both broadcasters and programme makers. Each regional station was responsible for its own branding, scheduling and advertising, with many peak-time programmes shared simultaneously across the whole network. The companies serving London, the Midlands, North West England and Yorkshire (which were the first to start broadcasting in 1955 and 1956) were responsible for making or commissioning the majority of nationally networked programmes; these companies were known as the "Big Four" before 1968 and the "Big Five" afterwards (reflecting the number of companies). Every company made its own regional programmes.
The network began with companies serving London in 1955, and gradually grew until all companies were on air by 1962, and continued to grow as more transmitters were provided for existing companies during the 1960s and 1970s. Over time, some companies lost their franchises and were replaced by others, and the regions covered by some franchises were changed. From 1993, mergers between ITV companies became possible; as a result, companies began to take each other over to increase efficiencies and to expand. By 2004, all of the ITV franchises in England and Wales were owned by the newly formed ITV plc, the four other franchises being Scottish TV, Grampian TV, UTV and Channel.
Regional continuity branding
The list below indicates the on-air brand names predominantly used by each regional company, which may differ from the official company name or franchise name. Each company used its own branding:
as production logos on every programme that it made or commissioned (whether for local or national broadcast).[note 1]
Thus companies' brands were often seen by viewers outside their own areas, especially the Big Four/Five brands. From 1989, a national ITV corporate identity was established, which saw regional brands combined with the national ITV brand, although the balance between regional and national brands varied from company to company.
By 2002, all regional companies in England and Wales were owned by either Granada plc or Carlton Communications. These companies carried identical schedules, except for regional news and weather which continued to use joint regional and ITV1 branding. At all other times national ITV1 branding alone was used in England but not Wales. Two years later, Granada and Carlton merged to form ITV plc. Regional branding in England was completely abolished in 2006.
Some regions were divided into sub-regions for the purposes of regional news and advertising, but these sub-regions were not usually identified by on-air branding and consequently are not shown here (with the exception of Wales and the West of England which, after 1964, were managed under a single franchise but are shown as separate regions).
1956, the initial "Big Four" companies
1956
1962, after all companies had begun broadcasting
1962
1965, after Teledu Cymru had been taken over by TWW and its area had been extended
1965
1968, after franchise changes
1968
1974, after minor boundary changes
1974
1982, after franchise changes
1982
1993, after franchise changes
1993
Historical branding in all regions of the ITV network
In the table above coloured highlights denote companies whose broadcasting times were limited:
blue denotes weekdays only;
pink denotes weekends only;
yellow denotes breakfast time only (when all other ITV franchises were off air).
Ownership of regional companies
National branding from 2002
From 2002, all regional companies in England used national ITV1 branding alone for networked programmes. Similarly in Scotland, both the Scottish and Grampian regions were rebranded in 2006 as "STV" at all times.
National continuity branding
Continuity branding used for networked programmes, that is, excluding regional programmes.
Franchise and news regions
With all English franchises owned by ITV plc, there have been times when the news regions have not coincided with the official franchise regions. These exceptions are listed in the tables below. For the names of the regional news programmes, see ITV (TV network) § Regional programming.
ITV network regions and sub-regions continue to be used by ITV Media to sell different advertisements in each sub-region.
Production branding
Each regional company was not just a broadcaster but also a television production company. After mergers, all the production arms of the companies acquired by ITV plc were taken over by Granada Productions, which became ITV Studios in 2009. The two STV regions formed SMG Productions, which became STV Productions and then STV Studios.
Notes
^Production logos appeared immediately after programmes ("endcaps") and also, on ITV until 1989, immediately before ("frontcaps").
^ITV1 regional names in England were used only before regional programmes
^ a bFrom 2000
^"North East 3" branding (also "Channel 3 North East") was used between 1996 and 1998
^ a b c dArea served by "Big Four" or "Big Five" companies
^ a b cMondays to Fridays
^ a b cSaturdays and Sundays
^ a bCarlton branding replaced Central branding between 1999 and 2003
^ a b cFrom 2004
^Rebranded "Rediffusion London" from 1964
^Monday morning to Friday 7 pm
^Fridays from 7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays
^ a bMonday morning to Friday 5.15 pm (excluding 6 am to 9.25 am daily)
^ a bFridays from 5.15 pm, Saturdays and Sundays (excluding 6 am to 9.25 am daily)
^ a bCarlton branding replaced Westcountry branding between 1999 and 2003
^6 am to 9.15 am daily
^6 am to 9.25 am daily
^UTV branding is still used with regional programmes.
^Until 2006, regional programmes outside London were preceded by continuity with joint ITV1/regional branding
^From 2008.
^Although the HTV franchise was acquired by Carlton, its production arm was sold to Granada.
References
^"ITV Media | ITV Regions". ITV plc. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
^"ITV Regions". ITV plc. Archived from the original on 4 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
^"Full service Freeview transmitters | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^ a b"Caldbeck (Cumbria, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^ a b"Central News". ITV Hub. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^"Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Fremont Point Freeview Light transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
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^ a b c"Meridian News". ITV Hub. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
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^"Hannington (Hampshire, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
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^ a b c d"News & Current Affairs". STV Player. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^"Black Hill (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Eitshal (Eilean Siar, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Angus (Dundee City, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Bilsdale (North Yorkshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Divis (Northern Ireland) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Moel-Y-Parc (Flintshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Bristol Kings Weston (City of Bristol, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^ a b"West Country News". ITV Hub. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^"Beacon Hill (Torbay, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Belmont (Lincolnshire, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^ a b"Calendar News". ITV Hub. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
^"Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^Guardian Staff (7 October 2003). "Timeline: ITV 1955-today". The Guardian.
^ a b c dApril 2001, "Independent Television: A short chronology (1954-1997)", Soundcapes Volume 4, ISSN 1567-7745, accessed 8 May 2019
^"Our History". channelonline. channelonline.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
^ a b"Tyne Tees Television". BFI Film & TV Database. BFI. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
^Rogers, Jeremy. "Border Television History". Independent TeleWeb. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
^"Belmont TimeLine", thebigtower.com, accessed 17 March 2021
^"Westcountry". Guardian. 5 September 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
^End of era at UTV as Julian Simmons and Gillian Porter exit, Belfast Telegraph, 26 November 2020
^Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (17 February 2009). "Seventeen regions into nine: How the updated ITV local news services will run". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
^Story, Chris (7 February 2009). "Revamped Lookaround set for broadcast on February 25". News & Star. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
^"Island set for Granada services". BBC News. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
^Holmwood, Leigh (20 September 2006). "Launch of ITV region delayed". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 April 2012.