ITV chief executive Charles Allen has said that the company is to launch more channels to ensure that they stays competitive as broadcast television moves towards its all-digital future. Mark Desmond, managing director, said that details of the new channels would not be announced until after ITV3 launches this autumn. One of the channels is thought to be a children’s offering in association with a US broadcaster.
Additionally, the broadcaster is in talks with BBC director-general Mark Thompson to acquire BBC Worldwide’s 10 UKTV channels. To achieve this, ITV would buy out BBC Worldwide’s share in the joint venture with Flextech Television. This would bring ITV a raft of ready-made lifestyle channels including UKTV Gold, History, Food and Drama.