ITV Local
Encyclopedia
ITV Local was a broadband service provided by ITV plc
, the contractor and provider of ITV in 11 of the 15 Television Regions. First established in 2005, the website provided local news, weather and features on demand 24 hours a day.
The project began with two trial services in Brighton
and Hastings
. Due to the success of this, the service was expanded to cover the entire region, then whole of the ITV plc network.
On 4 March 2009, it was announced that Local would close as a separate business. It did on 17 March 2009, with the regions integrated into ITV.com
.
Each region's site also featured special channels unique to that area and short-duration special events. ITV Local has hosted special features for British University Sports Association, Cowes Week
, the Notting Hill Carnival
, Thames Festival, Latitude Festival
and the British International Motor Show
.
. Some services such as news, weather and UGC may be transferred to the ITV.com parent brand. ITV Local closed on 17 March 2009 as a separate business, with the regions integrated to ITV.com
After months of waiting ITV Local has been put online however the site has not officially launched.
ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom...
, the contractor and provider of ITV in 11 of the 15 Television Regions. First established in 2005, the website provided local news, weather and features on demand 24 hours a day.
The project began with two trial services in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
. Due to the success of this, the service was expanded to cover the entire region, then whole of the ITV plc network.
On 4 March 2009, it was announced that Local would close as a separate business. It did on 17 March 2009, with the regions integrated into ITV.com
Itv.com
itv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...
.
Features
ITV Local included the following:- Local jobs, classified adverts and dating
- All versions of the regional news bulletins
- Extended news features and updates through the day
- Entertainment features, extended interviews and an entertainments listings service
- Five-day forecasts for all regions
- Many regional programmes, such as Country Ways and current affairs series Focus as shown on Meridian and Metroland in London
- Short films sent in by viewers
- Live streaming cameras from scenic locations and special events
- Short features from local professional filmmakers
Each region's site also featured special channels unique to that area and short-duration special events. ITV Local has hosted special features for British University Sports Association, Cowes Week
Cowes Week
Cowes Week is one of the longest-running regular regattas in the world. With 40 daily races, up to 1,000 boats, and 8,500 competitors ranging from Olympic and world class professionals to weekend sailors, it is the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world...
, the Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...
, Thames Festival, Latitude Festival
Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
and the British International Motor Show
British International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show...
.
Additional UGC services
ITV Local also offered a range of UGC-based multi-regional services under the brand, including a iReport-like video upload and social networking site known as YourNews and a site based around local sports events. A new photo-sharing and photo-mapping site was planned for mid-August.ITV restructuring and planned closure
Changes to the regional structure and output of ITV negatively affected ITV Local, which was heavily dependent on ITV regional content. ITV's core TV advertising business also performed poorly due to the economic downturn. As a result, on March 4, 2009 ITV announced that Local would close in April, subject to consultation. The Scoot sub-brand was marked for sale along with Friends ReunitedFriends Reunited
Friends Reunited is a portfolio of social networking websites based upon the themes of reunion with research , and job-hunting...
. Some services such as news, weather and UGC may be transferred to the ITV.com parent brand. ITV Local closed on 17 March 2009 as a separate business, with the regions integrated to ITV.com
Itv.com
itv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...
After months of waiting ITV Local has been put online however the site has not officially launched.