ITV Interactive will manage interactive advertising, content and marketing but, unlike Carlton Active, it will not handle production, which will be brought in from outside.
It is thought that Granada Interactive will be merged into the operation as well, but a Granada spokesman was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
The merger of the departments will be one of the first signs that Carlton and Granada are taking the first steps toward the creation of a single ITV.
The merger is currently being investigated by the Competition Commission, after it was referred by secretary of state for trade and industry Patricia Hewitt last week.
All 26 staff at Carlton Active were told of the decision on Friday. They have been invited to apply for jobs at the new division but, because there will be no production jobs, there will be fewer posts available.
Carlton rebranded its interactive division as Carlton Active when it launched its digital interactive advertising service on the Carlton Food Network and Carlton Cinema channels in May 2000.
Jane Marshall, the chief executive of Carlton Active, is predicted to be appointed to the top post at ITV Interactive. However, it is expected that she will face competition from Justin Judd, controller of Granada Sport and Interactive, who is also thought to be interested in the post.
Carlton Active will continue to operate until early summer. The news will not affect the four sales staff, who will join Carlton Sales, the TV airtime sales operation headed by Martin Bowley.
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