ITV News Channel
~ ITN/ITV News Channel ~
The ITN News Channel(NC) ran full time on digital Satellite/Cable and always ran a fragmented service on DTT, sometimes covering only certain hours, and other times only being available in certain regions of the country. The channel itself was always on a shoestring budget, with looped programmes, and reports borrowed from the services ITN provides for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Despite this, they did have a wonderful graphics set and music.
In 2002, Granada and Carlton took over the station and, like they do with everything, decided it had to become the ITV News Channel. On September 30th, this new rebranding came about, bringing with it simulcasted news reports on ITV1. It still bears some resemblance to the old ITN channel though, with almost identical 'Sport' and 'Market' stings. This finally went in 2004, when an integrated corporate news look was introduced to mark the merger of Carlton and Granada, and the formation of ITV plc.
The channel lasted through until late 2005, despite its disjointed DTT hours over the years. Limited space on Freeview meant that its hours were cut to half day in favour of ITV4 in the November, and with the impending launch of the CITV Channel in Spring 2006, they would have had to have been cut even further. Faced with the prospect of running the channel only on Satellite and Cable, where their viewing figures were already much poorer, ITV finally pulled the plug on the news channel at the end of the year.
In 2002, Granada and Carlton took over the station and, like they do with everything, decided it had to become the ITV News Channel. On September 30th, this new rebranding came about, bringing with it simulcasted news reports on ITV1. It still bears some resemblance to the old ITN channel though, with almost identical 'Sport' and 'Market' stings. This finally went in 2004, when an integrated corporate news look was introduced to mark the merger of Carlton and Granada, and the formation of ITV plc.
The channel lasted through until late 2005, despite its disjointed DTT hours over the years. Limited space on Freeview meant that its hours were cut to half day in favour of ITV4 in the November, and with the impending launch of the CITV Channel in Spring 2006, they would have had to have been cut even further. Faced with the prospect of running the channel only on Satellite and Cable, where their viewing figures were already much poorer, ITV finally pulled the plug on the news channel at the end of the year.
ITN News Channel - Pre October 2002
ITN NC Headlines
The headlines from the ITN news channel - There's even some continuity to lead into them!
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ITN NC Sport
A short sting used before the Sports news.
ITN NC Money
The music used to lead into the financial news.... only this time someone accidentally left the music on a little too long.
ITN NC Break Open
A quick bit music to lead into the advert breaks.
ITN NC Break Return
Returning from the break on the ITN News Channel... and arrows are everywhere!
ITV News Channel - Post October 2002
ITV NC Headlines
The first incarnation of the ITV News Channel graphics were nothing special. Basically, they run as a longer version of an ITV1 News report. Bearing in mind the graphics and music for ITV's news were at this point over 3 years old, it was expected this was just a short term measure... though it ended up lasting over a year.
ITV NC Break
The sting into the advert breaks, once again hugely similar to those from ITV1's news of the time.
ITV NC Sport
This is where things started going wierd. The sting into the sport is a strange hybrid affair, still using the old music and 'green' colour scheme from the ITN era above, only now elements of the ITV look are mixed in.
ITV NC Markets
Another hybrid sting, this time for the Market Report, still using the same sponsored by ad though.
ITV NC Weather
And finally, a brief sting for the ITV Weather. The graphics on the actual forecasts from this point became identical to those used on ITV1, apart from the fact that on the non-widescreen ITV NC, they were fed out as a 4:3 picture.
ITV NC Break - 2003
2003 saw some new break bumpers and stings for the ITV News Channel, whilst the main headlines remained in the old style. The new graphics use time-lapse cameras, as well as a full colour version of the ITV News Channel logo.
ITV NC Break End - 2003
The new Break end bumper, showing a shot from the gallery.
ITV NC Markets - 2003
The new market report, left in full here so you hear Nicholas Owen valiantly carry on when the graphics fail around him!
ITV News Channel Opening - 2004
Early 2004, and an overdue whole new look comes to the news presentation on ITV to coincide with the merger of Granada and Carlton to form ITV plc, and the restructuring of regional news production under the ITV News division. The particular hour in this clip wasn't presented from the full set, instead being presented from the smaller CSO 'cupboard'.
ITV News Channel Break - 2004
When the full set is in use, the words 'Breaking News For Britain' fly in over the studio in a very cheesy fashion. When only the CSO cupboard is being used though, this different bumper is used.
ITV News Channel Break End - 2004
Regardless of the into-break bumper, the returning one is the same. The words 'Breaking News For Britain' appear over the top of a gallery shot. It is interesting to note however that this gallery shot was apparently live, as can be seen if you watch the content upon the gallery screens.
~ Acknowledgements ~