List of ITV regions
The ITV network of the United Kingdom is divided into a number of regions for the purposes of regional news, weather and advertising.
Current regions[edit]
The table below lists the current regions for ITV and its two associated channels, the timeshifted ITV +1 and the high-definition ITV HD. The three channels use different regions.[1][2] In addition, there are variations for some satellite customers.
| ITV | Map ref | ITV +1 | ITV HD | Service area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia (East)[3] | 1e |
Anglia (East) | Anglia (East) | Norfolk, Suffolk, northern and eastern Essex |
| Anglia (West)[4] | 1w |
Cambridgeshire, most of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, northeastern Hertfordshire and northeastern Buckinghamshire | ||
| Border (England)[5] | 2e |
Granada | Granada | Central and northern Cumbria |
| Border (Scotland)[6] | 2s |
Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders | ||
| Central (East)[7] | 3e |
Central (West) | Central (West) | Leicestershire, central and southern Derbyshire, southern Nottinghamshire, Rutland and southwestern Lincolnshire |
| Central (West)[8] | 3w |
Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands, Worcestershire and northern Gloucestershire | ||
| Channel[9] | ▼ 4 | N/A | N/A | Channel Islands |
| Granada[10] | 5 |
Granada | Granada | Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, northwestern Derbyshire, southern Cumbrian coast, western North Yorkshire and Isle of Man |
| London[11] | 6 |
London | London | Greater London, southern and western Essex, western Kent, Surrey, eastern Berkshire, southern Buckinghamshire, southern, central and northwestern Hertfordshire |
| Meridian (South-East)[12] | 7se |
Meridian (South-East) | Meridian (South-East) | Central and eastern Kent and East Sussex (except southwest) |
| Meridian (South)[13] | 7s |
Central and southern Hampshire, West Sussex, Isle of Wight, central and eastern Dorset, southeastern Wiltshire, and southwestern East Sussex | ||
| Meridian (Thames Valley)[14] | 7t |
Oxfordshire, central and northwestern Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, northern Hampshire, eastern Gloucestershire and southwestern Northamptonshire | ||
| STV Central (East)[15] | 8e |
STV Central (East) | STV Central (West) | Edinburgh and surrounding area |
| STV Central (West)[16] | 8w |
STV Central (West) | Central and western Scotland (excluding Edinburgh area) | |
| STV North (Aberdeen)[17] | 9a |
STV North (Aberdeen) | STV Central (West) | Northern and eastern Scotland |
| STV North (Dundee)[18] | 9d |
Dundee and surrounding area | ||
| Tyne Tees[19] | 10 |
Tyne Tees | Tyne Tees | County Durham, Northumberland, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and northern North Yorkshire |
| UTV[20] | 11 |
UTV | UTV | Northern Ireland |
| Wales[21] | 12 |
Wales | Wales | Wales |
| West Country (East)[22] | 13e |
West Country (East) | Central (West) | Bristol, southern Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire, northern fringes of Dorset and Somerset |
| West Country (West)[23] | 13w |
West Country (West) | Devon, Cornwall and western Dorset | |
| Yorkshire (East)[24] | 14e |
Yorkshire (East) | Yorkshire (West) | East Riding of Yorkshire, most of Lincolnshire, central Nottinghamshire and northeastern Derbyshire |
| Yorkshire (West)[25] | 14w |
South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, central and southern North Yorkshire and northern Nottinghamshire |
Most transmitter areas overlap to some extent, so ITV regional services can often be received beyond the service areas indicated above. Regional and sub-regional news and weather coverage may extend to include overlap areas.
History[edit]
Independent companies 1955–2004[edit]
Independent Television began as a franchised network of independently-owned regional companies that were both broadcasters and programme makers. Each regional station was responsible for its own branding, scheduling and advertising, with many peak-time programmes shared simultaneously across the whole network. The companies serving London, the Midlands, North West England and Yorkshire (which were the first to start broadcasting in 1955 and 1956) were responsible for making or commissioning the majority of nationally-networked programmes; these companies were known as the "Big Four" before 1968 and the "Big Five" afterwards (reflecting the number of companies). Every company made its own regional programmes.
The network began with companies serving London in 1955, and gradually grew until all companies were on air by 1962, and continued to grow as more transmitters were provided for existing companies during the 1960s and 1970s. Over time, some companies lost their franchises and were replaced by others, and the regions covered by some franchises were changed. From 1993, mergers between ITV companies became possible; as a result, companies began to take each other over to increase efficiencies and to expand. By 2004, all of the ITV franchises in England and Wales were owned by the newly-formed ITV plc, the four other franchises being Scottish TV, Grampian TV, UTV and Channel.
Branding[edit]
The list below indicates the on-air brand names predominantly used by each regional company, which may differ from the official company name or franchise name. Each company used its own branding:
- as station identification in continuity announcements and programme trailers in its own region;
- within its own regional news programmes;
- as production logos on every programme that it made or commissioned (whether for local or national broadcast).[note 1]
Thus companies' brands were often seen by viewers outside their own areas, especially the Big Four/Five brands. From 1989, a national ITV corporate identity was established, which saw regional brands combined with the national ITV brand, although the balance between regional and national brands varied from company to company. By 2002, the English regions shared a national schedule with national ITV1-branded continuity, except for regional opt-outs which used combined national and regional branding.
Some regions were divided into sub-regions for the purposes of regional news and advertising, but these sub-regions were not usually identified by on-air branding and consequently are not shown here.
| Area | First on air[26] | Until 1968[27] | 1968–1982[27] | 1982–1992[27] | 1993–2004[27] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Scotland | 30 September 1961 | Grampian | Grampian Television | ||||
| Central Scotland | 31 August 1957 | Scottish Television / STV | Scottish Television | ||||
| Northern Ireland | 31 October 1959 | Ulster Television | UTV | ||||
| Channel Islands | 1 September 1962[28] | Channel Television | Channel Television / CTV | CTV | Channel | ||
| North East England | 15 January 1959.[29] | Tyne Tees Television | TTTV / Tyne Tees | TTTV / Tyne Tees / North East 3[note 2][29] | |||
| Southern Scotland, Cumbria, Isle of Man |
1 September 1961[30] | Border Television | Border | ||||
| North West England | 3 May 1956 | Granada | |||||
| Yorkshire | 3 November 1956 | Yorkshire Television | Yorkshire Television | ||||
| Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire | 20 December 1965 | Anglia | Anglia until 1974 | ||||
| Yorkshire Television from 1974[31] | |||||||
| East of England | 27 October 1959 | Anglia | |||||
| Midlands | 17 February 1956 | ATV | Central | Central / Carlton (Central)[note 5] | |||
| South and South East England | 30 August 1958 | Southern | TVS | Meridian | |||
| London area | 22 September 1955 |
|
|||||
| Wales | 14 September 1962 | Teledu Cymru from WWN until 1964 | Harlech / HTV Cymru Wales | HTV Wales | HTV (Cymru Wales) | ||
| Teledu Cymru from TWW after 1964[note 11] | |||||||
| South Wales and West of England VHF only |
14 January 1958 | TWW (General)[note 12] | Harlech / HTV (General) | HTV (General) until 1985 | N/A | ||
| West of England except VHF |
June 1970 | N/A | HTV West | HTV (West) | |||
| South West England | 29 April 1961 | Westward | Westward TV | TSW | Westcountry / Carlton (Westcountry)[note 13][32] | ||
| Nationwide breakfast franchise | 1 February 1983 | N/A | TV-am[note 14] | GMTV[note 15] | |||
| Nationwide teletext franchise | 1978 | N/A | ORACLE | Teletext | |||
In the table above coloured highlights denote companies whose broadcasting times were limited:
- blue denotes weekdays only;
- pink denotes weekends only;
- yellow denotes breakfast time only (when all other ITV franchises were off air).
Regional maps[edit]
1962, after all companies had begun broadcasting
1965, after Teledu Cymru had been taken over by TWW and its area had been extended
1968, after franchise changes
1974, after minor boundary changes
1982, after franchise changes
1993, after franchise changes
From 2004[edit]
From 2004, all regions in England lost regional branding and were rebranded as "ITV1" at all times, and carried identical schedules except for regional news and weather. Regional identities were visible only within these regional programmes. Similarly in Scotland from 2006, both the Scottish and Grampian regions were rebranded as "STV" at all times.
Continuity branding[edit]
| Area | 2004–2006 | 2006–2013 | 2013 | 2014–2020 | from 2020 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Scotland | Grampian TV | STV | 
| ||||
| Central Scotland | Scottish TV | ||||||
| Northern Ireland | UTV | ITV[33] | |||||
| Channel Islands | Channel | ITV1 Channel Television | ITV | ||||
| England, Southern Scotland, Isle of Man | ITV1[note 16] | ||||||
| Wales | ITV1 Wales | ITV Wales | ITV Cymru Wales | ||||
Franchise and news regions[edit]
With all English franchises owned by ITV plc, there have been times when the news regions have not coincided with the official franchise regions. These exceptions are listed in the tables below. For the names of the regional news programmes, see ITV (TV network) § Regional programming.
ITV network regions and sub-regions continue to be used by ITV Media to sell different advertisements in each sub-region.
Maps of ITV-branded franchise and news regions[edit]
Franchise regions 2002–2013
News regions 2002–2006
News regions 2006–2009
News regions 2009–2013
Franchise and news regions since 2014
Production branding[edit]
Each regional company was not just a broadcaster but also a television production company. After mergers, all the production facilities of the companies acquired by ITV plc were taken over by Granada Productions, which became ITV Studios in 2009. The two STV regions formed STV Studios.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Production logos appeared immediately after programmes ("endcaps") and also, on ITV until 1989, immediately before ("frontcaps").
- ^ "North East 3" branding (also "Channel 3 North East") was used between 1996 and 1998
- ^ a b c Mondays to Fridays
- ^ a b c Saturdays and Sundays
- ^ Carlton branding replaced Central branding between 1999 and 2003
- ^ Rebranded "Rediffusion London" from 1964
- ^ Monday morning to Friday 7 pm
- ^ Fridays from 7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays
- ^ a b Monday morning to Friday 5.15 pm (excluding 6 am to 9.25 am daily)
- ^ a b Fridays from 5.15 pm, Saturdays and Sundays (excluding 6 am to 9.25 am daily)
- ^ Temporarily branded as "Independent Television Service Teledu Cymru" for a three-month transitional period in 1968
- ^ Temporarily branded as "Independent Television Service for South Wales and the West" for a three-month transitional period in 1968
- ^ Carlton branding replaced Westcountry branding between 1999 and 2003
- ^ 6 am to 9.15 am daily
- ^ 6 am to 9.25 am daily
- ^ Until 2006, regional programmes in some regions were preceded by continuity with joint ITV1/regional branding
References[edit]
- ^ "ITV Regions". Itvmedia.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Full service Freeview transmitters | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Tacolneston (Norfolk, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Caldbeck (Cumbria, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Caldbeck (Cumbria, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Waltham (Leicestershire, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Fremont Point Freeview Light transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Dover (Kent, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Hannington (Hampshire, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Craigkelly (Fife, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Black Hill (North Lanarkshire, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Eitshal (Eilean Siar, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Angus (Dundee City, Scotland) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Bilsdale (North Yorkshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Divis (Northern Ireland) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Moel-Y-Parc (Flintshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Bristol Kings Weston (City of Bristol, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Beacon Hill (Torbay, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Belmont (Lincolnshire, England) transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ "Emley Moor (Kirklees, England) Full Freeview transmitter | ukfree.tv - 11 years of independent, free digital TV advice". ukfree.tv. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
- ^ Staff, Guardian (October 7, 2003). "Timeline: ITV 1955-today". The Guardian.
- ^ a b c d April 2001, "Independent Television: A short chronology (1954-1997)", Soundcapes Volume 4, ISSN 1567-7745, accessed 8 May 2019
- ^ "Our History". channelonline. channelonline.tv. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Tyne Tees Television". BFI Film & TV Database. BFI. Archived from the original on 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
- ^ Rogers, Jeremy. "Border Television History". Independent TeleWeb. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ "Belmont TimeLine", thebigtower.com, accessed 17 March 2021
- ^ "Westcountry". Guardian. 5 September 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ End of era at UTV as Julian Simmons and Gillian Porter exit, Belfast Telegraph, 26 November 2020
- ^ Fitzsimmons, Caitlin (17 February 2009). "Seventeen regions into nine: How the updated ITV local news services will run". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ a b Story, Chris (7 February 2009). "Revamped Lookaround set for broadcast on February 25". News & Star. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ "Island set for Granada services". BBC News. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ a b Holmwood, Leigh (20 September 2006). "Launch of ITV region delayed". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
