ITV NEWS TO LAUNCH 24/7 SERVICE ON ITVX LATER THIS YEAR

EXCLUSIVE - JULY 2022

ITV News - produced by ITN - will launch a 24/7 news service on ITVX when the new streaming platform launches later this year, TV Zone can reveal.

The service will provide ITV News around the clock as well as providing an on-demand service for in-depth investigations, explanatory and eye-witness journalism.

The service will not be conventional rolling news channel, however it will have 'occasional' live programmes and bulletins.

Instead, the service will focus on "video on-demand" content which they promise will be continuously updated.

The expansion to streaming will see significantly increased investment and job opportunities in ITV News journalism. ITV emphasise that the output on ITVX will "evolve considerably" over its first year.

ITV News bosses told staff: "This is an incredibly exciting time for ITV News. Nobody else is currently providing a 24/7 video on demand news service like this and it is an incredible vote of confidence from ITV...

"The project is being funded at a significant level to provide a service which allow ITV viewers to keep up with all the latest, without having to turn to other news sources."

The news comes a few months after ITV extended its Evening News programme to an hour from 6:30pm, increasing the amount of news in primetime by half an hour every weeknight.

ITVX is the new free streaming platform from ITV, launching this Autumn. Further details will be revealed in due course.

ITVX will be the first streaming service in the UK to offer viewers the flexibility to access free content with ads and ad-free paid subscription, all in one place. Paying subscribers will also have access to BritBox UK.

ITVX will live stream must-watch events including the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, I’m A Celebrity and the Love Island Finale as they are broadcast on ITV’s channels.

ITVX will also offer an ever-changing host of exclusive themed channels in line with viewer preferences and popularity. These constantly evolving pop-up channels will give a scheduled experience through a streaming service, with viewers able to choose where in the schedule they join.