Carlton is expected to post a loss before tax and exceptional items of £110m against a loss of £26m last time. Granada is set to post a loss of £112m against a loss of £75m a year ago.
The losses will be attributed to the operational losses of ITV Digital, which cost each company £115m during the six months to March 2002.
Costs related to ITV Digital are not likely to end there, however, as there remains the matter of the £178.5m ITV Digital owes the Football League as part of the £315m TV rights deal that brought about the collapse of ITV Digital. The league has launched a court case suing Carlton and Granada for the money.
Carlton and Granada will also likely attribute a portion of the losses to the advertising downturn. ITV ad revenue slid 13% in the six-month period.
The outlook for ITV advertising could be positive. Recent industry figures have shown that for May and June, TV adspend is up 10% and 6% respectively, although this is partly due to advertisers taking advantage of the World Cup.
The companies are also expected to give their views on a much talked-about merger to create a single ITV company. The merger was given the go-ahead by the draft communications bill.
Granada chairman Charles Allen has made it clear that Granada is more than willing to merge. However, Carlton has shown some reticence.
The companies will also be expected to comment on the government's decision to remove legislation that stops international companies taking a stake in ITV or taking over either of them.
The market had mixed reactions to the broadcasters this afternoon with Carlton down 0.66% at 261.75p, while Granada was up 3.99% to 130.25p
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