ITV3

Infobox TV channel
name = ITV3
logofile = ITV3.svg
logosize = 200px
logoalt =
launch = 1 November 2004
share = 1.5% (0.1% for +1)
share as of = August 2008
share source = [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/monthreports.cfm?report=monthgmulti&requesttimeout=500&
]
owner = ITV Digital Channels Ltd (ITV plc)
picture format = 16:9/4:3, 576i (SDTV)
replaced names = Plus
sister names = ITV2
ITV4
Men & Motors
former names =
timeshift names = ITV3+1
web = [http://www.itv.com/itv3 www.itv.com/itv3]
terr serv 1 = Freeview
terr chan 1 = Channel 10
sat serv 1 = Freesat
sat chan 1 = Channel 115
Channel 116 (+1)
sat serv 2 = Sky Digital
sat chan 2 = Channel 119
Channel 179 (+1)
sat serv 3 = Astra 2D
sat chan 3 = 10906V 22000 5/6
cable serv 1 = Virgin Media
cable chan 1 = Channel 116
adsl serv 1 = Tiscali TV
adsl chan 1 = Channel 13
online serv 1 = itv.com
online chan 1 = Any Page

ITV3 is an entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. The channel shows mainly older dramas. In some regards, it is the continuation of older channel Granada Plus.

Launch

It launched on the terrestrial (Freeview), cable (NTL and Telewest) and digital satellite (Sky Digital) on 1 November 2004 at 9.00pm and is also available on Tiscali TV IPTV.

The channel had been available from launch on NTL Ireland, but was pulled on 22 March 2006. This is believed to have been at the request of ITV plc, which had previously barred Irish newspapers from publishing details of ITV channels and regions other than UTV and Men & Motors. Fact|date=June 2007

Originally speculation was rife over whether it would launch on the Digital Satellite platform immediately, but after a deal whereby the transmission of a very similar ITV controlled channel, Plus, was hastily ceased just 30 minutes prior to launch, ITV3 took its channel number and bandwidth meaning all platforms could launch simultaneously. Staff at Plus were given 15 minutes' notice. On satellite, it is available as a free-to-air channel, and as such does not require an active Sky Digital subscription. Fact|date=June 2007

Viewership

The channel is mainly aimed at the over 35 audience, and the company are hoping to use it, and extra investment into its ITV2 channel to triple non-terrestrial revenue within five years. ITV's attempt to secure more ratings for the channel has led to the network purchasing the exclusive terrestrial television rights to a number of newer and in some cases popular US drama series, such as "NUMB3RS" and more recently "".

ITV launched a one hour timeshift channel of ITV3 on Monday, 30 October 2006. ITV2+1 launched on the same day. This channel is often unable to broadcast certain programmes "for legal reasons", but the programme in question might still be listed on the EPG.

During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, ITV3 broadcast some of the matches while ITV1 and ITV4 were showing live European football matches which were being played at the same time.

ome programmes shown on ITV3

ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards

The ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards were first held on 3 October 2008, and were broadcast on ITV3 on 6 October. ITV3 controller Emma Tennant devised the awards to "cement [ITV3] 's reputation as the home of great storytelling and, in particular, great crime thrillers". [cite news|author= West, Dave|title= ITV3 plans crime drama awards, season|url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a95210/itv3-plans-crime-drama-awards-season.html|work= Digital Spy|date= 2008-05-03|accessdate= 2008-10-07]

References

External links

*itv.com|id=itv3|title=ITV3