Business
ITV moves into pay television
ITV moves into pay television.
About this update from Itv Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 4145Q ITV PLC 03 August 2010 \n \n\n \n3 August 2010\n\nITV MOVES INTO PAY TELEVISION\n - ITV TO LAUNCH HIGH DEFINITION DIGITAL CHANNELS ON SKY - \n\n\nITV has agreed a pay-television deal with Sky to launch high definition versions of its successful digital channels as a subscription service on the Sky platform. \n\nITV2 HD, ITV3 HD, and ITV4 HD will launch as part of Sky+HD's subscription package of channels in autumn 2010. The channels will be available to all homes subscribing to a Sky+HD subscription, of which there are more than 2.9 million.\nITV2 HD will launch in October for the start of The Xtra Factor, with ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD launching shortly after.\n\nITV's digital channel family is the most successful in the UK, and increased its total share of viewing over the first half of 2010 by 12%, with ITV2 and ITV3 the two most popular digital channels in the UK.\n\nAdam Crozier, Chief Executive of ITV plc, said: \"I'm delighted to announce ITV's move into pay television today with this deal with Sky. We will launch our highly successful family of digital channels, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4, in high definition for the very first time as part of the Sky+HD subscription. \n\n\"Building new revenue streams by exploiting our content across multiple platforms is a key part of the ITV Transformation Plan announced today. Pay television has seen continual growth over the last decade and this deal is a great example of how a new, subscription-based launch, can complement ITV's existing free-to-air channels.\"\n\nMike Darcey, Sky's Chief Operating Officer, said: \"The subscription model best rewards those committing to HD and continues to drive its growth. We therefore welcome ITV's move to embrace pay TV to satisfy the demands of millions who now regard anything less than HD as a compromise. This is great news for the one in three Sky homes who have already responded to the increased choice and quality offered by Sky+HD.\"\n\nThe new high definition channels will showcase a large and increasing range of high definition programming. ITV2, original HD programming will include the top rating entertainment shows, Britain's Got More Talent, The Xtra Factor and I'm A Celebrity….Get Me Out of Here Now! ; original drama such as the third series of Secret Diary of...