LONDON (Brand Republic) – Granada Media and Carlton Communications are considering the launch of a 24-hour ITV-branded cable and satellite news channel and interactive internet news service as part of their plans to jointly develop the ITV brand.
The news follows the easing of broadcasting regulations which will eventually see the formation of a single ITV company.
Granada and Carlton are expected to ask the contenders for ITV’s £45m-a-year five-year news contract to supply the new services. Incumbent ITN faces opposition from a consortium led by BSkyB, which is keen for Sky News to provide the service.
Carlton and Granada each own a 20% stake in ITN. Under current broadcasting regulations, no shareholder can own more than 20% of ITV’s news provider. Other ITN shareholders are Associated Newspapers, United Business Media and Reuters.
If this legislation is scrapped, it is widely believed that Carlton and Granada would buy out ITN’s other shareholders making it ITV’s in-house news provider.