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| sat chan 3 = 10758 V 22000 5/6<br>10832 H 22000 5/6 (+1)
| sat chan 3 = 10758 V 22000 5/6<br>10832 H 22000 5/6 (+1)
| cable serv 1 = [[Virgin Media]]
| cable serv 1 = [[Virgin Media]]
| cable chan 1 = Channel 118<br>Channel 175 (+1)
| cable chan 1 = Channel 118<br>Channel 175 (+1)<br>Channel 178 (HD)
| cable serv 2 = [[Smallworld Cable]]
| cable serv 2 = [[Smallworld Cable]]
| cable chan 2 = Channel 125
| cable chan 2 = Channel 125

Revision as of 11:10, 14 March 2013

ITV4
CountryUnited Kingdom
Ownership
OwnerITV Digital Channels Ltd
(ITV plc)

ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action series of the 1960s and 1970s. ITV4 is broadcast on digital terrestrial, satellite, cable and IPTV platforms.

History

First ITV4 logo, used from 1 November 2005 to 13 January 2013.
ITV4 HD logo, used from 2010 to 2013.

It was expected that ITV4 would replace the existing Men & Motors channel in the same way Granada Plus was rebranded into ITV3, until ITV plc stated that the two channels would run alongside each other, forcing the ITV News Channel on Freeview to timeshare with ITV4. ITV replaced the failing News Channel with CITV. Both channels were on Freeview until ITV plc took Men & Motors off Freeview (although it remained on other platforms for some time until April 2010) and replaced it with the live quiz channel ITV Play. Some programming from Men & Motors were transferred to ITV4. ITV4 was the first channel to use the new on-screen look that was rolled out across the rest of ITV plc's channels on 16 January 2006. Red Bee Media designed the new logos and presentation for the entire corporation that saw the end of the yellow and blue squared look designed for ITV, ITV2 and the cube look for ITV3. An ITV annual report revealed that an old style logo was designed for the channel but was never used on air.

ITV4 was launched on UPC Ireland in the Republic of Ireland on 4 January 2010, marking the first time the channel has been officially available in the country. The channel had already been (and remains) available to Irish viewers on free-to-air satellite for some time, however it has not been listed in the Sky electronic programme guide since its removal on 25 January 2006. On 1 April 2011, ITV4 was removed from UPC Ireland along with ITV2 and ITV3 due to the expiry of a carriage agreement between UPC and ITV.[1] UPC Ireland claim that ITV is not in a position to renegotiate the deal because ITV had struck a deal with another channel provider to provide it with exclusive rights to air certain content from the channels. Conversely, UPC Ireland also claims to have been in discussions right up to the last moment in order to continue broadcasting the channels.[2] ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 were restored to the UPC Ireland line-up on 20 December 2011. TV3 and its sister channel 3e already hold carriage agreement to air certain ITV content within the Republic of Ireland,[3] alternatively UTV is available within the Republic. ITV2 is available along with ITV3 and ITV4 within Switzerland, all three channels are available on SwisscomTV and UPC Cablecom.[4]

Launch

ITV4's launch night was on Freeview channel 30. Although it was broadcast on the Astra 2D satellite used by Sky, so users could manually tune it in. It was launched on Sky channel 120, after ITV2 and ITV3 in the listings, on 7 November. Prior to this date, some sporting content was simulcast on Men & Motors in an ITV4 on M&M strand.

ITV4 +1

In late October 2008, it was announced that a timeshifted (+1) version of ITV4 would be launched by the end of the year. ITV4 +1 was launched on Sky on 1 December 2008, on Freesat on 9 December 2008 and on Virgin Media on 25 March 2010. It was removed from Sky on 11 January 2011, due to the launch of ITV +1 taking up space on the EPG; the channel continued to be available on Freesat and Virgin Media. On 31 May 2012, ITV4 +1 returned to Sky, to channel 206.[5]

ITV4 HD

File:ITV4 HD logo 2013.svg
ITV4 HD logo, used from 2013 to present.

A high-definition simulcast of ITV4, ITV4 HD, was launched on 15 November 2010 on Sky.[6][7] The channel is currently available through Sky's pay subscription service in a non-exclusive deal,[8][9] and is expected to be added to Virgin Media in March 2013 on channel 178; the channel was planned to be added on 7 March but was postponed.[10] ITV4 HD's high definition content includes films, and sports events such as the British Touring Car Championship,[11] 2010-11 Ashes Series, Tour de France, Players Championship Finals, UEFA Europa League, and Indian Premier League Cricket.[12]

Branding

2013 rebranding

In line with the corporate rebranding of ITV, ITV4 received a new look on 14 January 2013. The channel adopted a "slate grey" logo and became the "home of sport and cult classics". Channel promotion includes pub factoids and idents featuring viewer nominated "dreams come true".[13]

Freeview

As Freeview announced plans for a retune on 30 September 2009, ITV4 moved to an alternative multiplex. Viewers in areas that have completed switchover who receive their signal from a local relay transmitter and receive 'Freeview Lite', are no longer able to receive ITV4.[14]

Some programmes shown on ITV4

Past programmes on ITV4

A number of shows from the ITC catalogue were shown, such as The Saint and The Persuaders!.

In a change of pace, in June 2007, ITV4 aired The Winner.

ITV4 used to air the Late Show with David Letterman from 1 November 2005 until it was dropped by the channel on 27 October 2006 and replaced with Saturday Night Live from 4 November 2006.

Sports coverage

Before ITV4's launch in 2005, ITV's digital sports coverage was on ITV2, but after its launch all sports coverage has moved to ITV4.

Current coverage

Football

  • UEFA Europa League (Live and Highlights 2005 until at least 2015)[15]
  • International Friendlies and Play-Offs - 2010–present
  • Champions League, England internationals and FA Cup (highlights and reruns of matches shown on ITV)
  • Legends Football - 2008–present
  • Bundesliga - Weekly highlights

In addition, ITV4 shows goal and match compilations as well as old editions of The Big Match from the 1970s.

Cycling

Rugby Union

Motorsport

Darts

Cricket

Tennis

Snooker

  • Power Snooker 2010–present

Poker

Former coverage

Football

Boat Race

Boxing

  • Big Fight Live
  • Frank Warren fights 2005-2008 (Now on BoxNation)
  • Hennessey fights 2008-2010 (Now on Channel 5 and Primetime)
  • Undercard of main fight usually shown on ITV4 with main event on ITV with all fights from 2008-2010 on ITV4

Cricket

Darts

Motorsport

References

  1. ^ "Bad news for fans of Poirot: UPC is losing ITV2, 3 and 4". Business ETC. 31 March 2011.
  2. ^ "ITV2, ITV3, & ITV4 channels are no longer available". UPC Ireland. 1 April 2011.
  3. ^ "UPC lose ITV's digital channels". TheAirwaves. 1 April 2011.[dead link‍] [dead link‍]
  4. ^ Channels - Television | upc cablecom
  5. ^ "ITV4 +1 returns to Sky". Entertainment Interactive. 31 May 2012.
  6. ^ "ITV plc 2010 Interim Results & Sky deal". ITV plc. 3 August 2010.
  7. ^ "ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD go live on Sky". Digital Spy. 15 November 2010.
  8. ^ Sweney, Mark (2 March 2011). "ITV earmarks £12m to hire new talent to break international hit drought". London: The Guardian.
  9. ^ Sweney, Mark (3 August 2010). "ITV unveils pay-TV push". London: The Guardian.
  10. ^ "Re: New Channels Launches". Virgin Media. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
  11. ^ "ITV to air British Touring Cars in HD". Digital Spy. 11 October 2010.
  12. ^ a b ITV4 to broadcast Indian Premier League The Independent, 5 March 2010.
  13. ^ Laughlin, Andrew (16 November 2012). "ITV1 to become 'ITV' in major corporate rebrand". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  14. ^ What changes happen after I re-tune?
  15. ^ Sweney, Mark (17 October 2011). "ITV snatches Europa League from Channel 5". The Guardian. London.
  16. ^ Jessica Hodgson (30 July 2001). "ITV pays £5m for Tour de France". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  17. ^ Kate McMahon (2008). "ITV4 secures Tour De France to 2013". Broadcast Now. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  18. ^ "European Championship On ITV4". PDC. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.[dead link‍]
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