ITV Channel Timeline

Here is a timeline of all the ITV Channels from 1955 to the present day.

* **22nd September 1955:** ITV launches as the second TV network in the UK after BBC, which launched way back in 1936.
* **15th November 1969:** ITV is broadcast in colour for the first time.
* **1st October 1996:** Granada launches Plus (then known as Granada Plus) / Men & Motors / Breeze (then known as Granada Good Life).
	+ On digital terrestrial TV (then known as ONdigital / ITV Digital), Breeze / Men & Motors were listed as one channel under the name "BreezeMen&Mtrs" until Breeze closed down in January 2002, leaving Men & Motors to soldier on as "men&motors" until ITV Digital collapsed in May that year. Men & Motors returned to digital terrestrial TV in 2005 as part of Freeview, this time being listed as "Men & Motors".
* **7th December 1998:** ITV launches its second digital channel on the network, known as ITV2.
	+ On digital terrestrial TV from launch (ONdigital era) until October 2005 (Freeview era), the channel was listed as "ITV 2". From October 2005 (Freeview era) until 2nd March 2016 (Freeview / Freeview HD / Freeview Play era) it was listed as "ITV2" (same as on other platforms). As of 3rd March 2016 (Freeview / Freeview HD / Freeview Play era), on the EPG on all platforms, the channel is now listed as "ITV TWO".
* **1st August 2000:** The ITV News Channel (then known as the ITN News Channel) launches.
	+ On digital terrestrial TV from launch (ONdigital era), the channel was listed as "ITN". From 2002 (post-ITV Digital / pre-Freeview era) until first closure in 2005 (Freeview era) then from relaunch on 26th October 2013 (Freeview / Freeview HD era) onwards on all platforms, the channel is now listed as "ITV News" on the EPG
* **11th August 2001:** ITV was re-branded as ITV1.
	+ On digital terrestrial TV until 10th August 2001 (ITV Digital era) the channel was listed as "ITV Channel 3", then from 11th August 2001 (ITV Digital era) until October 2005 (Freeview era) it was listed as "ITV 1". From October 2005 (Freeview era) until 2nd March 2016 (Freeview / Freeview HD / Freeview Play era) it was listed as "ITV1" with additional regional titles (same as on other platforms). As of 3rd March 2016, on the EPG on all platforms, the channel is now listed as "ITV ONE".
		- Later in 2001, ITV1 & 2 became available on Sky via digital satellite.
* **19th November 2001:** ITV2 switches its programming format to its current genre (female entertainment). Initially, ITV2 was only a proper general entertainment channel when it launched back in 1998.
* **28th October 2002:** All of the network's regions were re-branded as simply ITV1, with the regions' names now only being used to introduce regional programmes.
* **2nd February 2004:** Carlton & Granada have merged together to create ITV plc.
* **1st November 2004:** ITV3 launches, replacing Plus.
	+ On all platforms until 2nd March 2016 it was listed on the EPG as "ITV3". As of 3rd March 2016, on the EPG on all platforms, the channel is now listed as "ITV THREE".
* **1st November 2005:** ITV4 launches, replacing Men & Motors.
	+ On all platforms from launch until 2nd March 2016 it was listed on the EPG as "ITV4". As of 3rd March 2016, on the EPG on all platforms, the channel is now listed as "ITV FOUR".
* **23rd December 2005:** The first era of ITV News Channel ceased broadcasting at 6pm that evening.
* **11th March 2006:** The CITV channel launches, replacing the failing news channel (as mentioned above).
* **30th March 2006:** Scottish & Grampian Television merged together, creating STV Group.
* **9th June** **2006:** The short trial of ITV HD launched.
* **2007:** CITV and other children's channels / blocks were banned by the consumer regulator Ofcom from showing junk food adverts and sponsorships between and within their programmes due to concerns about childhood obesity, with cases rising dramatically over the last few years.
* **7th June 2008:** ITV HD relaunched as a full service broadcast following the short trial which lasted nearly six months in 2006.
* **2nd April 2010:** ITV HD collapsed, and a full simulcast of ITV1 was launched.
* **29th March 2011:** ITV1 changed its primary colour from yellow to amber following ITV2's new look from 17th February.
* **29th March 2011:** Channel Television was renamed to ITV1 Channel Islands.
* **6th April 2011 - 27th October 2012:** ITV expands its network of regular channels from 4 to 9. These additional channels were each given the following primary colours: Blue (ITV5), Red (ITV6), Violet (ITV7), Grey (ITV8) & Turquoise (ITV9).
* **18th April 2011:** ITV started to slowly roll out their +1 simulcasts across all channels. ITV1 & 2 were the first channels to receive a +1 simulcast respectively.
* **22nd April 2011:** ITV3 changed its primary colour from maroon to plum following the launch of ITV3 HD.
* **11th August & 6th October 2011:** ITV5 & 6 were the first two out of the five new channels to launch a full HD simulcast. The other three channels launched their HD simulcasts on the same day as the launch of the standard simulcasts.
	+ Also on 6th October 2011, ITV6 started broadcasting in 16:9 aspect ratio. Prior to this, it was broadcasting in 4:3 for the first three months from its launch date, although it was later revealed that the channel was suffering from a technical fault because it was meant to be broadcast in 16:9 like any other channel on the network.
* **24th September 2011:** ITV1 Wales & ITV1 West got renamed back to the old HTV name respectively, and the now-defunct HTV Group plc was launched.
* **26th October 2013:** The long gone ITV News Channel is reborn after almost 8 years since it ceased broadcasting on 23rd December 2005.
* **10th January - 5th March 2014:** ITV1, 2 & 5 were re-branded by ITV plc for the first time.
* **1st January 2015:** CITV decided to re-use the 2003 logo as they had ran out of ideas for a new logo at the time.
* **3rd March 2016:** ITV plc becomes the 'Heart of Entertainment'. Also ITV5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 were merged together to create a single channel known as "ITV1 Extra".
	+ On the old 1998-2010 Sky Digibox/2001-2010 Sky+/2006-2009 Sky+ HD EPG, ITV1 Extra was listed as "ITV 1 Extra", On the new Sky HD EPG & all other platforms, it was listed as "ITV ONE Extra".
* **3rd March 2016:** ITV plc bought UTV, STV & HTV.
* **3rd March 2016:** The channels' HD simulcasts were closed and ITV HD relaunched, now only as a pay-per-view service to all existing HD customers currently using the following platforms: Sky+, SkyQ, Freeview, TalkTalk, YouView, BT TV, Freesat & Virgin.
* **22nd August 2016:** ITV plc launches ITV Life, a new TV channel for reality and lifestyle programming. Also on that day, the long gone ITV Sport Channel made a return after 14 years - this time being less controversial than in the first era (this was due to ITV Digital entering administration because they did not have the money to pay the Football League and also it had fewer channels than its successor, Freeview).
	+ On the EPG on all platforms, the ITV Sport Channel is listed as "ITV Sport"
* **1st March 2017:** CITV Channel extends its on-air hours (now finishing three hours later, at 9pm), and launches its own one-hour timeshift simulcast, CITV+1.
* **24th** **April 2017:** All channels on the network became available on TopUp TV via subscriber's choice.
* **30th April 2018:** A new look presentation package was rolled out across ITV1/Extra, 2, 3, 4, Life & Sport Channel.

* **1st January 2019:** The ITV HD pay-per-view service ended transmission and was replaced by HD simulcasts of the network's existing channels, except the CITV Channel.
	+ It was confirmed that a HD simulcast of CITV Channel would launch on the Freeview, Sky & Freesat platforms in 2020.

* **13th May 2019:** The CITV Channel's one-hour timeshift simulcast was renamed to CITV Rewind.
* **10th January 2020:** CITV High Definition, the HD simulcast of the CITV Channel, launched at 6am.
	+ On the old 2006-2009 Sky+ HD EPG, it is listed as "CITV HD".
* **15th August 2020:** CITV Channel moves all of its preschool programming to a separate channel to make room for more programmes aimed at older children. The new channel for preschool children launched at 6am.
* **29th August 2020:** ITV1 Extra permanently closed down at 9am, and moved all of its programming to ITV Player. Just over a year later, the channel got removed from the Freeview EPG on the same day when the Freeview version of the new music channel NOW 60s (channel 74) started broadcasting 24 hours like on other platforms.
* **19th October 2020:** The ITV Interactive gaming app came to an end, and was replaced by an interactive TV channel of the same name and genre on Freeview & Sky. The online service still exists though.
	+ A second stream of ITV Interactive channel was launched on Freeview & Sky as ITV Interactive 2 on 18th April 2021, the same day when the original stream got renamed to ITV Interactive 1. A third stream later launched on 4th July that year, as ITV Interactive 3.
	+ All three streams also broadcast live sports, lifestyle and events, as well as interactive games (similar to BBCi's live stream on Freeview 601)
	+ On the Freeview EPG, the channels are listed as "ITV 602", "ITV 603" & "ITV 604".
* **14th June 2021:** The ITV Sport Channel leaves the Freeview platform because of a reshuffle of Global Group's music channels that would help create more room for new channels on the COM7 multiplex. Classic FM TV, Capital TV, Heart TV & Smooth TV moved up 25 spaces on the EPG 5 days later, meaning that Classic FM TV took over the channel's old space (channel 63). Since Classic FM TV closed down for a second time on 1st September 2022 due to low audience ratings, it is now taken over by Capital Xtra TV on all platforms where available, which already saw the audience ratings growing significantly.
	+ On Freeview, following the closure of the COM7 multiplex on 30th June 2022, the above-mentioned music channels kept their EPG numbers but have moved to the COM4 multiplex.
	+ On the old 1998-2010 Sky Digibox / 2001-2010 Sky+ / 2006-2009 Sky+ HD EPG, Capital Xtra TV is listed as "Cap'l Xtra TV".
	+ Just over two months after launch, Capital Xtra TV swapped places with Capital TV on the Freeview EPG. Capital Xtra TV is now on ch64 and Capital TV is now on ch63.
* **20th July - 4th December 2021:** A refresh of idents was given to all 5 main channels, featuring a much larger logo fading in at the centre of the screen at the end of each ident. The background picture blurs as the logo fades in, and the ITV.com URL & Hashtag name #HeartOfEntertainment appear on the bottom of the screen.
	+ ITV Life was the only channel to keep their old idents, but were slightly re-edited in the style to match those used on the four other main channels on 4th December.
	+ The idents used by ITV1, 2, 3 & 4 were slightly edited on 18th October 2022 to include the new channel logos introduced on that day.
* **8th August 2021:** The Freeview Test Channel launched on channel 605.
	+ The channel enables viewers to make sure they have a good signal and bandwidth for viewing all ITV channels, including HD (on Freeview HD & Freeview Play equipment) & +1 channels.
		- If a test passes, viewers don't need to do anything with their existing equipment.
		- If a test fails, viewers may need to re-scan or factory reset their existing equipment or get it repaired by a qualified specialist. Also they may need to check channel 100 and / or visit the Freeview website, or phone the Freeview Advice Line for help and advice.
		- If all else fails, viewers may need to consider upgrading to newer equipment as there may be a fault with their existing equipment.
	+ It was launched because there had been some recent news that some Freeview users reportedly lost over three quarters of the TV channels (including all the ITV channels in some cases) and almost all the radio channels from their EPGs before retuning their equipment to try and get them back after several attempts, despite them not having a signal problem or faulty equipment.
	+ The test channel closed less than 3 months later as it was proven to become unnecessary. The channel was also removed from the EPG to release a slot for a brand new London-based radio station known as InterPlay Radio - the world's first fully-interactive radio station where every song is played at the listeners' requests, which are sent via an email or standard-rate text message. Each listener gets to choose up to three songs of any music genre from the 60s to now, but the song with the most requests wins and gets to be played on the radio. The station is available on Freeview channel 735 as well as Sky channel 0123 and online.
		- Since its launch in October 2021, InterPlay has also launched twelve fully-interactive sister stations and two temporary pop-up stations on Sky as well as online. Here is InterPlay's full line-up on Sky:
			* InterPlay Radio - the main station (music of all genres from the 60s to now) on channel 0123, with a different music genre every hour.
			* InterPlay Kids (children's music) on 0179.
				+ From March until November 2023 the station was closed following complaints from parents who reportedly heard 'explicit' content in some of the requested songs on the station. This was due to missing information about songs with 'explicit' content on the station's terms and conditions, and reports later revealed that the songs have been requested deliberately by adults who don't live with children.
				+ A new version of this station with updated terms and conditions launched in November 2023. This new version does not allow adults to request songs that are unsuitable for children.
			* InterPlay Hits (contemporary hit music from the 90s to now) on 0181
			* InterPlay Soul (Motown, Jazz, Northern Soul & Disco from the 60s to the 80s) on 0182
			* InterPlay Dance (club classic hits from the 90s to now) on 0185
			* InterPlay Rock (rock anthems from the 60s to now) on 0187
			* InterPlay Mellow (relaxing classics and power ballads from the 80s to now) on 0189
			* InterPlay Country (country music from the 60s to now) on 0190
			* InterPlay Chill (chill-out anthems from the 90s to now) on 0191
			* InterPlay Urban (Britpop, Indie & Alternative music from the 90s to now) on 0193
			* InterPlay Movies (songs from the movies and musicals) on 0194
			* InterPlay Street (Afro, R&B & Hip-Hop classics from the 90s to now) on 0195
			* InterPlay Christmas (Christmas music from the 60s to now), which runs every year from 15th November until 1st January the following year as a temporary station on channel 0198
			* InterPlay Love (love songs from the 60s to now), which runs every year in the last few days leading up to Valentine's Day, Mothers' Day & Fathers' Day as a temporary station on channel 0199
* **27th October 2022:** The ITV News Channel was removed from Freeview. It continues to be broadcast on other platforms, and it can still be streamed on Freeview via Newsstream Worldwide (channel 270) and, as of 2023, as a subscription channel on Arqiva+.
* **5th September 2023:** ITV stops broadcasting all movies on two of its main channels (ITV3 & ITV4) to make way for the launch of four movie channels under the name ITV Movies - which launched on the same day.
	+ Its first attempt to launch a movie channel was way back in 2000 when ONdigital launched "ONrequest", which was later renamed to "ITV Select" in 2001 as part of the rebrand from ONdigital to ITV Digital and closed in 2002 when ITV Digital went into administration.
* **4th November 2023:** CITV & CITV Preschool launched their own catch-up service on ITVX, known as CITVX. The service allows children up to the age of 12 to catch up on their favourite CITV & CITV Preschool programmes at any time of the day, and it also features more programmes than the CITV & CITV Preschool channels.