Editing ITV (TV network) (section)

==Organisation (other networks)==
The ITV network is not owned or operated by one company, but by a number of licensees, which provide regional services while also broadcasting programmes across the network. Since 2016, the fifteen licences are held by two companies, with the majority held by ITV Broadcasting Limited, part of ITV plc.

The network is regulated by the media regulator [[Ofcom]] who is responsible for awarding the broadcast licences. The last major review of the Channel 3 franchises was in 1991, with all operators' licences having been renewed between 1999 and 2002 and again from 2014 without a further contest. While this has been the longest period that the ITV network has gone without a major review of its licence holders, Ofcom announced (following consultation) that it would split the [[ITV Wales and West|Wales and West]] licence from 1 January 2014, creating a national licence for Wales and joining the newly separated West region to [[ITV Westcountry|Westcountry Television]], to form a new licence for the enlarged South West of England region.

All companies holding a licence were part of the non-profit body ITV Network Limited, which commissioned and scheduled network programming, with compliance previously handled by ITV plc and [[ITV Channel Television|Channel Television]]. However, due to amalgamation of several of these companies since the creation of ITV Network Limited (and given Channel Television is now owned by ITV plc), it has been replaced by an affiliation system.<ref name="bbc news affiliation system">{{cite news |last=McIvor |first=Jamie |title=Broadcaster STV reaches new deal with ITV |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-17258458 |access-date=19 January 2013 |newspaper=BBC News |date=5 March 2012 |archive-date=7 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307183252/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-17258458 |url-status=live }}</ref> Approved by Ofcom, this results in ITV plc commissioning and funding the network schedule, with [[STV (TV channel)|STV]] and [[UTV (TV channel)|UTV]] paying a fee to broadcast it.<ref name="bbc news affiliation system"/> All licensees have the right to opt out of network programming (except for the national news bulletins), but, unlike the previous system, will receive no fee refund for doing so. Therefore many do not opt out due to pressures from the parent company or because of limited resources.<ref name="bbc news affiliation system"/> Prior to the affiliate system being introduced, STV would frequently (and sometimes controversially) opt out of several popular network programmes – such as the original run of the first series of ''[[Downton Abbey]]'' – citing the need to provide more Scottish content to its viewers.<ref>{{cite news|last=McIvor|first=Jamie|title=STV counts cost of ITV peace deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-14663137|access-date=19 January 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=25 August 2011|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125144303/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-14663137|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a public service broadcaster, the ITV network is obliged to broadcast programming of public importance, including news, current affairs, children's and religious programming as well as party election broadcasts on behalf of the major political parties and political events, such as the Budget. The network also needs to produce accessible output containing subtitles, signing and audio description. In exchange for this programming, the ITV network is available on all platforms free to air and can be found at the top of the [[Electronic program guide|EPG]] of all providers.

Since the launch of the platform in 1998, all of the ITV licensees have received gifted capacity on the [[digital terrestrial television]] platform. At present, the companies are able to broadcast additional channels and all choose to broadcast the ITV plc owned [[ITV2]], [[ITV3]], [[ITV4]] and [[ITVBe]] in their region. UTV and STV (formerly [[Scottish Television]] and [[Grampian Television]]) previously broadcast their own services – [[UTV2]] in Northern Ireland and [[S2 (TV channel)|S2]] in central and northern Scotland – until 2002, when they adopted the ITV plc channels. Despite this, STV was given a broadcasting licence for what would become the [[STV2]] channel in 2013, however this was short-lived and the channel closed in 2018. The broadcasters all make use of the [[Digital 3&4]] multiplex, shared with [[Channel 4]]. [[CITV]] launched in March 2006 (closed September 2023). [[ITV Encore]] launched in June 2014 (closed May 2018) and [[ITVBe]] launched in October 2014. [[ITV Box Office]] launched in February 2017 (closed January 2020).

On 13 September 2022,<ref name="itv.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-confirms-its-plans-coverage-state-funeral-her-majesty-queen | title=ITV confirms its plans for coverage of the state funeral for Her Majesty the Queen | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=24 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924190307/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-confirms-its-plans-coverage-state-funeral-her-majesty-queen | url-status=live }}</ref> ITV confirmed that during the day of Monday 19 September, the day of the state funeral for Her Majesty Queen [[Elizabeth II]], all programming schedules on ITV's digital channels will be scrapped, with the main ITV News coverage being shown live and uninterrupted on every channel.<ref name="tvzoneuk.com">{{cite web | url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/queensfuneral-itvplansann | title=Itv Confirms Plans for the Queen's Funeral | date=13 September 2022 | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=13 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913154411/https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/queensfuneral-itvplansann | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="itv.com"/> This was the first time ITV decided to do this, with the company keeping their digital channels' schedules mostly as advertised in the run up to the funeral (with a few amendments for cancelled sporting events on ITV4) and all royal coverage being on their main channel.<ref name="tvzoneuk.com"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/on-hold-how-the-queens-death-affects-tv-platforms | title=On hold: How the Queen's death affects TV platforms | date=12 September 2022 | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=13 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913154413/https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/on-hold-how-the-queens-death-affects-tv-platforms | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/uk-channels-suspend-broadcasts-following-queens-death | title=UK channels suspend broadcasts following Queen's death | date=8 September 2022 | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=8 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908214701/https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/uk-channels-suspend-broadcasts-following-queens-death | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvsch-tues13sept-pt2 | title=Itv Schedule: Tuesday 13 September 2022 | date=13 September 2022 | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=13 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913154404/https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvsch-tues13sept-pt2 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvsch-tues13sept221 | title=Itv Schedule Changes: Tuesday 13 September 2022 | date=12 September 2022 | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=13 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913154408/https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvsch-tues13sept221 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvschc-wed14sept22 | title=Itv Schedule Changes: Wednesday 14 September 2022 | date=13 September 2022 | access-date=13 September 2022 | archive-date=13 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913155926/https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/itvschc-wed14sept22 | url-status=live }}</ref>

===ITV plc===
{{Main|ITV plc}}
[[File:YorkshireTVstudiosLeedsJan07.jpg|thumb|[[The Leeds Studios]], used by [[ITV Yorkshire]]. Each ITV region originally had its own studios, however the rise of publisher-broadcasters like [[Carlton Television]] and the takeover of regions caused several studios to be closed.]]

ITV plc owns thirteen of the fifteen franchises and broadcasts to England, Wales, southern Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland through its subsidiary company ITV Broadcasting Limited.<ref name="itv plc channel buyout"/> The company also owns the [[ITV Breakfast|breakfast television licence]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Robinson|first=James|title=ITV takes full control of breakfast TV broadcaster GMTV|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/nov/26/itv-buys-remaining-gmtv-stake|access-date=19 January 2013|newspaper=Guardian|date=26 November 2009|location=London|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410013203/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/nov/26/itv-buys-remaining-gmtv-stake|url-status=live}}</ref> which as of January 2020, broadcasts across the network between 6:00 and 10:00am each morning using the ''[[Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme)|Good Morning Britain]]'' (previously ''[[Daybreak (2010 TV series)|Daybreak]]'') and ''[[Lorraine (TV programme)|Lorraine]]'' names. The company broadcasts a centralised service under the [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV1]] brand. In Northern Ireland, ITV used the UTV brand name as the name of the channel until April 2020.<ref name="Belfast-271120">{{cite news |author1=Ralph Hewitt |title=End of era at UTV as Julian Simmons and Gillian Porter exit |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/end-of-era-at-utv-as-julian-simmons-and-gillian-porter-exit/39795035.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405084452/ |archive-date=5 April 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The group also owns [[ITV Studios]], the production arm of the company and formed from an amalgamation of all the production departments of the regional licences they own. The company produces a large proportion of ITV's networked programming (around 47%, but previously as high as 66% according to some reports<ref>{{cite news|title=Lygo quits Channel 4 |publisher=C21 Media |date=30 April 2010 |url=http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp |access-date=1 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025094921/http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp |archive-date=25 October 2007  }}</ref>), with the rest coming primarily from independent suppliers (under the Broadcasting Act 1990, at least 25% of ITV's total output must be from independent companies).<ref name="25% quota">{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Richard|title=Dispute over ITV and BBC quotas|url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=hamlib&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=IF500068544&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0|access-date=19 January 2013|newspaper=Times|date=20 June 1990}}</ref> ITV plc hopes to increase the amount of in-house programming to as close to the 75% limit as possible.

The group cut the number of regional news programmes offered from 17 in 2007 to 9 by 2009, resulting several regions being merged to form one programme, including the [[ITV Border|Border]] and [[ITV Tyne Tees|Tyne Tees]] regions, the [[ITV Westcountry|Westcountry]] and [[ITV Wales & West|West]] regions and the removal of sub regional programming, with some regions only represented by pre-recorded segments.<ref>{{cite news| title = Unions slam ITV regional cuts| publisher = MediaGuardian| date = 12 September 2007| url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/12/citynews.ITV| access-date = 27 September 2007| location = London| first = Leigh| last = Holmwood| archive-date = 22 December 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131222044802/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/12/citynews.ITV| url-status = live}}</ref> Sub-regions were restored in 2013.

===STV Group===
{{Main|STV Group}}

[[STV Group|STV Group plc]] owns two franchises, covering central and northern Scotland, through subsidiary companies STV Central and STV North, broadcasting a central service under the [[STV (TV channel)|STV]] brand.

The company had several disputes with ITV plc in the late 2000s and early 2010s over network programming. STV aimed to broadcast more Scottish programmes at peak times and so removed several key ITV plc programmes from their schedule in July 2009 including ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'' and ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]''.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/21/bill-shown-itv3-scottish-viewers |title=The Bill to be shown on ITV3 so Scottish viewers don't miss out |work=The Guardian |date=21 July 2009 |access-date=2 November 2010 |first=Leigh |last=Holmwood |location=London |archive-date=22 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222051419/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/21/bill-shown-itv3-scottish-viewers |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite STV's explanation of expense, ITV plc were angered by the decision, as a recent schedule change had made ''The Bill'' central to their programming, and broadcast the programmes on [[ITV3]] as well to ensure Scottish viewers could see the programmes. On 23 September ITV plc was reported to be in the process of suing STV for £20&nbsp;million, as ITV felt dropping the shows constituted a breach of network agreements;<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8269151.stm | work=BBC News | title=ITV launches £38m STV legal claim | date=22 September 2009 | access-date=5 May 2010 | archive-date=15 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015101107/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8269151.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> STV subsequently [[counter-sued]] ITV plc for £35&nbsp;million.

The dispute was ended in 2011 with STV agreeing to pay ITV plc £18&nbsp;million. The signing of the new affiliation deal has resulted in STV paying a flat fee for all networked programming, and so to drop any programmes is unlikely due to the large costs involved.<ref name="Business7">{{cite web|url=http://www.business7.co.uk/business-news/scottish-business-news/2012/03/05/stv-agrees-new-channel-3-licensing-deal-with-itv-106408-23775954/ |title=STV agrees new Channel 3 licensing deal with ITV |last=McCulloch |first=Scott |date=5 March 2012 |work=Business7 |access-date=28 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309033000/http://www.business7.co.uk/business-news/scottish-business-news/2012/03/05/stv-agrees-new-channel-3-licensing-deal-with-itv-106408-23775954/ |archive-date=9 March 2012 }}</ref>