ITV's news show, dubbed by some 'News at When', is currently broadcast at 10pm on at least three days a week and later on the remaining evenings, when feature-length films and dramas can be shown unbroken.
The new bulletin will continue to include the late regional news.
The move will end the battle with the BBC for the 10pm slot. The BBC moved its 'Nine O'Clock News' programme to 10pm after ITV moved the 'News at Ten' to 11pm after 31 years, to allow it to show feature-length dramas and films without interruption.
Earlier this year, ITV controller of news Steve Anderson admitted that "going head to head with the BBC's news programme is not a situation that we can handle".
Today, Anderson said: "This decision finally brings to an end the scheduling uncertainties of the past and enables us to concentrate on establishing a high quality news programme at 10.30pm. A fixed start time five nights a week gives viewers a clear appointment to view and allows ITV News to develop in a new and exciting direction."
ITV was forced by the regulator to move the show back to 10pm for three nights of the week in October 2000, because it said ITV was failing its audience.
The broadcaster eventually caved in after criticism from politicians, including Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The move will not see it beat the BBC in the ratings war, but ITV hopes it will see ratings improve from a low of 2.2m earlier this year, compared with almost 7m for the BBC's news programme.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)