ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that holds 13 of the 15 regional television licences that make up the ITV network (Channel 3), the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom.
This article is about a television channel operator. For the nation-wide group, see ITV (TV network). For the channel, see ITV1. For other uses, see ITV.Formerly
2232nd Single Member Shelf Investment Company Limited (November–December 2003)[1]
GB0033986497
US45069P1075 
2 February 2004
London, England, UK
- Andrew Cosslett (Chairman)
- Dame Carolyn McCall (Chief Executive)
ITV plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
History[edit]
Pre-acquisition[edit]
ITV plc was the result of Granada purchasing Carlton following the various mergers and acquisitions between the companies of the ITV network that had taken place from 1994 when the ownership rules were relaxed.[3]
The first wave of mergers began with Yorkshire Television acquiring Tyne Tees Television in 1992, forming a parent group called Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television.[4] In 1994, Carlton Communications – which had owned a 20% stake in Central Independent Television – acquired the remainder of the company[4] and, because of Central's shareholdings, inherited a 20% stake in Meridian Broadcasting. Later that year, Granada acquired London Weekend Television[4] through a hostile takeover worth in the region of £750 million. MAI, which controlled Meridian Broadcasting, acquired Anglia Television;[4] MAI became United News & Media after merging with United Newspapers – owners of The Daily Express in 1996.[4] Ownership rules, that previously restricted ownership of ITV licences by one company to two outright, plus 20% in a third, were relaxed, and so Carlton went on to acquire Westcountry Television[4] (later re-branding it Carlton, along with Central), Granada acquired Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television[4] (with the parent group becoming Granada Media, later simply Granada) and United acquired HTV.[4]