ITV Launches Live Broadcasts On 3 Network

ITV will today become the first terrestrial TV channel to broadcast live on mobile phones, in a deal signed with mobile network 3.

The simulcast service means that 3’s 3.7 million customers will be able to watch ITV1 and ITV Play as they would at home, on their mobiles.

The service will be priced at 99p per day’s viewing of ITV1, 49p for ITV Play, with a £5 per month for an 18 channel unlimited viewing tv pack.

ITV1 and ITV Play, ITV’s participation channel, will be the first channels to launch on the service today, which will be available to over 89% of the UK population.

The launch of ITV over mobile follows 3’s showing of this summer’s World Cup, which received nearly 4 million viewings over a four week period.

3’s already has a partnership with ITV to deliver TV clips of shows including Coronation Street and I’m a celebrity Get me Out of Here and highlights packages available to download on demand.

Jeff Henry, chief executive officer of ITV Consumer, said: “We are delighted to be working with 3 as the first terrestrial TV broadcaster to stream live to mobile. Now viewers can have their favourite channel with them 24 hours a day. When they want it, where they want it.”

Graeme Oxby, marketing director of 3, added: “The launch of ITV on 3 is where mobile TV finally becomes the service that everybody knows and loves, live telly exactly as you’d find it in your living room. The ability to watch full length programmes like X Factor on your 3 handset is going to be a liberating experience for many and we’re delighted that we managed to make it a reality.”