Cable & Wireless To Carry ITV2

At a presentation this morning at the Network Centre, ITV & Cable and Wireless Communications announced a deal which will involve the cable broadcaster carrying ITV2, ITV’s digital channel. The channel will be launched on the cable provider’s analogue service on 7 December, and will become digital when the group launches its digital service in spring of next year.

This will make ITV2 available in 850,000 television homes around the country, and once on C&WC’s digital service will form part of its basic access package (see Newsline).

Commenting on the deal, Graeme Stanley, director of programming at Cable & Wireless Communications, said: “C&WC is pleased to be able to offer this terrestrial television service on both analogue and digital to our customers. We are delighted to be joining ITV2 in this new venture, and we are sure the channel will establish itself as a key player in Britain’s TV future.”

As yet, ITV is maintaining its decision not to allow its ITV2 service to be carried by satellite broadcaster BSkyB (see Newsline). ITV’s two main companies, Carlton and Granada, also own ONdigital, which is launching its terrestrial digital service on 15 November (see Newsline)

ITV: 0171 843 8000 C&WC: 0171 674 5440