10th Jan 2005 09:00
ITV PLC10 January 2005 10 January 2005 ITV TO LAUNCH TELETEXT SERVICE ON ALL DIGITAL CHANNELS ITV has announced a 10-year deal with Teletext to launch and operate commercialand editorial text services across all the ITV family of channels in digitalhomes. The new service, which will be branded 'Teletext on ITV', will be accessible onall digital platforms giving viewers in mulitchannel homes direct access via thetext button on their remote control. The 'Teletext on ITV' service will first launch on digital satellite and digitalterrestrial during early summer 2005. The service will include news, sport,weather, travel, lottery results plus entertainment features including contentrelating to ITV programmes. Teletext has been available on ITV1 to viewers in analogue homes for more than10 years and still attracts over 14 million weekly viewers, this service willcontinue. However, the new digital text services will provide enhanced benefitswith full colour pages, easy-to-read fonts, faster, easier navigation plus theability to view programmes in quarter screen format whilst scrolling throughcontent. 'Teletext on ITV' will extend and complement existing ITV digital services suchas 24:7, ITV's interactive offering which includes enhanced programmingfeatures, gaming and downloads. Mick Desmond, Chief Executive of ITV Broadcasting said: "Teletext has along-established track record as the leader in this field and this deal means wecan offer our viewers the best possible service. ITV is committed to developingand enriching its digital offering and this new service adds depth and value forviewers." ITV's portfolio of channels available in digital homes now includes ITV1, ITV2,ITV3 and the ITV News Channel. Since ITV3's launch on 1 November, the ITVchannels' combined share of viewing has increased by 6 per cent. The new text service will join Teletext's existing services on Sky and Freeview. -ENDS- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: MediaBrigitte Trafford 020 7737 8719Ruth Settle 020 7843 8225 AnalystsGeorgina Blackburn 020 7620 1620 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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