ITN And ITV Sign New Six-year Contract For ITV News

ITN today announces that it has agreed terms with ITV for a new six-year contract, worth in excess of £250m, for the production of ITV News until the end of 2012. The contract covers network news programmes and ITV's London regional news programming.

As part of the new contract ITV is investing more than £15m in a complete technological upgrade of ITN's news operations for ITV. This will create one of the most modern newsrooms in Europe and ensure ITV News remains at the cutting edge of the industry and well placed to produce interactive, multi-platform services.

The new contract also increases funding for coverage, in particular one-off exclusives such as Lawrence McGinty's acclaimed Three Degrees From Disaster series and its follow-up from Antarctica, The Big Melt. This will allow ITN to continue to get its correspondents to the heart of the story and deliver truly distinctive, ground-breaking journalism.

Simon Shaps, Director of Television at ITV, said 'News is a key part of ITV's programming mix and in a multi-channel world plays an increasingly important role in distinguishing and defining the channel. ITV is committed to the provision of high quality, independent, impartial news and ITN delivers just that.'

Mark Wood, Chief Executive of ITN, said 'To secure a six-year commitment at a time of such rapid change in the media industry is a tremendous vote of confidence in ITN by ITV. We look forward to continuing to provide informative, agenda-setting and award-winning programmes and delivering strong ratings for ITV.'

David Mannion, Editor in Chief of ITV News said: 'ITV's decision to grant ITN a six-year contract is a tribute to the outstanding work of our journalists and technicians. In the last three years ITV News has trail-blazed broadcast news with an unprecedented string of major exclusives and innovative production. ITN will continue to provide ITV with what we believe to be the finest broadcast news in the UK in the coming years.'

The contract is subject to Ofcom approval and the conclusion of a legally binding agreement by the end of May 2007.

Enquiries:

ITN

Louise Evans, Director of Communications, 07917175515 Saskia Wirth, Head of Press & Publicity, ITV News, 07941237354

ITV Plc

Brigitte Trafford, Group Director of Communications, 020 78438000 Ruth Settle, Director of Communications, ITV Channels, 020 78438000