# ITV

Summary updated: 2026-10-04T15:21:31.645167Z
Canonical: https://finbar.com/research/companies/itv

## Overview

ITV plc is a UK-based media and entertainment company whose core activities are creating and distributing television content, broadcasting and streaming programmes, and selling advertising. It operates through ITV Studios, which produces and distributes content, and Media & Entertainment, which includes its UK television channels and streaming service ITVX. [1](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/what-we-do)

ITV’s UK broadcasting and streaming business is complemented by ITV Studios’ international operations, which span 13 countries across Europe, the United States and Australia. The company describes its purpose as “Making What Matters,” focused on entertaining and connecting people and reflecting and shaping culture. [1](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/what-we-do)[2](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/our-strategy) ITV’s 2025 annual report recorded £4.121 billion in total Group revenue, including internal revenue, and £3.511 billion in external revenue. [3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3203628)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2438312) The company traces its origins to 1955, when it launched as the UK’s first commercial television network. [5](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-packs/70-years-making-what-matters)
[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3203628)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2438312)[1](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/what-we-do)[2](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/our-strategy)[5](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-packs/70-years-making-what-matters)

## Products & services

ITVX is ITV’s streaming service, offering free, ad-funded on-demand programming, live ITV channels and themed channels, alongside the paid ITVX Premium tier. In November 2025, ITV said the free service had 26,000 hours of programming. FY2025 usage included 2,304 million streaming hours and 16.5 million monthly active users; the UK subscriber KPI was 0.9 million. Digital revenue was £614 million, including £540 million of digital advertising revenue. ITV’s digital-revenue category also includes subscriptions, addressable advertising, sponsorship and partnerships, ITV Win, social-media advertising and other digital ventures. [6](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/about-itvx)[7](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-smashes-streaming-records-hitting-3-billion-streams)[8](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-premium-launches-prime-video-uk-add-subscription)[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P113447177)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T12387532)[11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P705237)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T10270757)

ITV sells television and digital advertising, including addressable campaigns through Planet V, its self-service platform for ITVX. FY2025 Media & Entertainment advertising revenue was £1,723 million, of which £540 million was digital advertising; total Media & Entertainment revenue was £1,991 million. Digital advertising therefore represented about 31% of advertising revenue, while digital revenue was about 31% of Media & Entertainment revenue. [13](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itvs-planet-v-hits-ps1-billion-bookings)[14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2179555)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T12387532)

ITV Studios produces and distributes television content, formats and programme rights internationally. Its catalogue includes scripted and unscripted titles and formats such as *Bullseye*, *Twin Love*, *Celebrity Sabotage* and *Nobody’s Fool*. Global Partnerships distributes and licenses content; a 2025 agreement made ITV Studios the exclusive global distribution partner for VICE Studios, adding nearly 2,000 hours to a catalogue ITV described as exceeding 90,000 hours. In FY2025, Studios revenue was £2,130 million, and 28% of Studios revenue came from streaming platforms. [15](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itv-studios-unveils-powerhouse-mipcom-slate-bold-formats-premium-drama-compelling)[16](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/vice-media-selects-itv-studios-exclusive-global-distribution-partner)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T8426155)

ITV also operates its commercial linear channel family, including ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and ITV Quiz, with associated HD and +1 services; live channels are also available through ITVX. [6](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/about-itvx)
[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P113447177)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T12387532)[11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P705237)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T10270757)[14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2179555)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T8426155)[6](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/about-itvx)[7](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-smashes-streaming-records-hitting-3-billion-streams)[8](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-premium-launches-prime-video-uk-add-subscription)[13](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itvs-planet-v-hits-ps1-billion-bookings)[15](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itv-studios-unveils-powerhouse-mipcom-slate-bold-formats-premium-drama-compelling)[16](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/vice-media-selects-itv-studios-exclusive-global-distribution-partner)

## Geographic presence

ITV’s Media & Entertainment operations are UK-focused, while ITV Studios operates across 13 countries: the UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia. This production footprint should not be taken as a ranking of sales markets. [1](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/what-we-do) [18](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/2026-IR/2026-half-year-results-materials/ITV-plc-2026-half-year-results-presentation.pdf)

For the six months to 30 June 2026, ITV Studios reported revenue of £478m in the UK, £128m in the US, £144m in its “International” category and £162m in “Global Partnerships.” These represent approximately 52%, 14%, 16% and 18% of Studios revenue, respectively; the latter two categories are not country-level breakdowns. [18](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/2026-IR/2026-half-year-results-materials/ITV-plc-2026-half-year-results-presentation.pdf) ITV’s FY2025 annual report states that 59% of total revenue was generated outside the UK, but does not provide a country-by-country revenue split in the cited disclosure. [19](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/downloads/annual-report-2025.pdf)
[1](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/what-we-do)[18](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/2026-IR/2026-half-year-results-materials/ITV-plc-2026-half-year-results-presentation.pdf)[19](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/downloads/annual-report-2025.pdf)

## Business segments

ITV reports two operating segments: ITV Studios and Media & Entertainment. In FY2025, segment revenue was £4,121m before elimination of inter-segment sales: ITV Studios contributed £2,130m (about 52%) and Media & Entertainment £1,991m (about 48%). These percentages use reported segment revenue, including internal revenue between the segments. [20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3643124)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T13361313)

ITV Studios creates, owns and distributes television content across genres, markets and customers. Its FY2025 revenue comprised UK £989m (about 24% of segment revenue across ITV), US £310m (about 8%), International £434m (about 11%), and Global Partnerships £397m (about 10%). [21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T13361313)

Media & Entertainment covers ITV’s broadcasting and streaming activities, including linear and ITVX advertising, subscriptions, digital-multiplex carriage through SDN, and partnerships and other revenue. Its FY2025 revenue included advertising of £1,723m (about 42% of total segment revenue across ITV), subscriptions of £48m (about 1%), SDN of £38m (about 1%), and partnerships and other revenue of £182m (about 4%). [22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T7565792)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T13361313)
[20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3643124)[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T13361313)[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T7565792)

## Company history

The Television Act 1954 established the framework for commercial television in the UK, and ITV began broadcasting in London on 22 September 1955 as the country’s first commercial television network. It started as a collection of regional, independently operated franchises rather than as a single company. [5](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-packs/70-years-making-what-matters) Coronation Street premiered in 1960, and ITV began the transition to colour broadcasting in 1969. [23](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/happy-birthday-coronation-street-2018) [24](https://www.itv.com/news/central/2019-11-15/as-itv-in-colour-turns-50-hundreds-still-watch-in-black-and-white)

A major corporate change came in 2004, when Carlton Communications and Granada merged to form ITV plc, consolidating ownership of many ITV regional licences. [25](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmcumeds/380/38007.htm) In the 2010s, ITV expanded its production business through acquisitions including Talpa Media, and acquired Northern Ireland broadcaster UTV in 2016. [26](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-annual-report-2015.pdf) [27](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-2016-interim-report.pdf) ITV launched its catch-up service ITV Hub in 2015 and replaced it with ITVX in 2022, marking a shift toward streaming alongside its established broadcast business. [28](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-2015-results.pdf) [29](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itvx-uks-freshest-streaming-service-launch-8th-december)
[5](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-packs/70-years-making-what-matters)[23](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/happy-birthday-coronation-street-2018)[24](https://www.itv.com/news/central/2019-11-15/as-itv-in-colour-turns-50-hundreds-still-watch-in-black-and-white)[25](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmcumeds/380/38007.htm)[26](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-annual-report-2015.pdf)[27](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-2016-interim-report.pdf)[28](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-2015-results.pdf)[29](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itvx-uks-freshest-streaming-service-launch-8th-december)

## Sources

1. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/what-we-do)
2. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/about-itv/our-strategy)
3. [ITV — Full financial report (2025 Y), p18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3203628)
4. [ITV — Full financial report (2025 Y), p138](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2438312)
5. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-packs/70-years-making-what-matters)
6. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/about-itvx)
7. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-smashes-streaming-records-hitting-3-billion-streams)
8. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itvx-premium-launches-prime-video-uk-add-subscription)
9. [ITV — Presentation (2025 Y), p30](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P113447177)
10. [ITV — Presentation (2025 Y), p30](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T12387532)
11. [ITV — Presentation (2025 Y), p31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P705237)
12. [ITV — Presentation (2025 Y), p31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T10270757)
13. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itvs-planet-v-hits-ps1-billion-bookings)
14. [ITV — Presentation (2025 Y), p8](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T2179555)
15. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/itv-studios-unveils-powerhouse-mipcom-slate-bold-formats-premium-drama-compelling)
16. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/presscentre/media-releases/vice-media-selects-itv-studios-exclusive-global-distribution-partner)
17. [ITV — Presentation (2025 Y), p7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T8426155)
18. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/2026-IR/2026-half-year-results-materials/ITV-plc-2026-half-year-results-presentation.pdf)
19. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/downloads/annual-report-2025.pdf)
20. [ITV — Press release (2025 Y), p68](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T3643124)
21. [ITV — Press release (2025 Y), p68](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T13361313)
22. [ITV — Press release (2025 Y), p67](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T7565792)
23. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/articles/happy-birthday-coronation-street-2018)
24. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/news/central/2019-11-15/as-itv-in-colour-turns-50-hundreds-still-watch-in-black-and-white)
25. [publications.parliament.uk](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmcumeds/380/38007.htm)
26. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-annual-report-2015.pdf)
27. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-2016-interim-report.pdf)
28. [www.itvplc.com](https://www.itvplc.com/~/media/Files/I/ITV-PLC-V2/documents/investors/result-centre/reports-and-results/itv-2015-results.pdf)
29. [www.itv.com](https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itvx-uks-freshest-streaming-service-launch-8th-december)

AI-generated summary; may contain errors. Not investment advice. Sign up to Finbar to view original document sources and access worldwide fundamental financial data and intelligence.