During the reporting of its first half accounts, ITV have confirmed that high definition versions of ITV2, ITV3 and ITV 4 will be launching.
The new channels will be available from the autumn as part of the Sky+HD subscription package. ITV2 HD will launch in October, with ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD launching shortly afterwards. ITV2 HD will launch in October for the start of The Xtra Factor, with ITV3 HD and ITV4 HD launching shortly afterwards.
Announcing the move, ITV chief executive Adam Crozier said: "Building new revenue streams by exploiting our content across multiple platforms is a key part of the ITV transformation plan announced today.
"Pay television has seen continual growth over the last decade and this deal is a great example of how a new, subscription-based launch can complement ITV's existing free-to-air channels."
ITV1+1 also expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2011.
It is also expected that a new channel will also be launched, again as part of a PAY TV package, in a similar genre as Dave.
It is unknown what type of frequencies ITV2HD ITV3HD and ITV4HD will be located on, and if they will be easily available here in Spain.
From the ITV statement to the Stock Exchange
The new high definition channels will showcase a large and increasing range of high definition programming. ITV2, original HD programming will include the top rating entertainment shows, Britain's Got More Talent, The Xtra Factor and I'm A Celebrity….Get Me Out of Here Now! ; original drama such as the third series of Secret Diary of a Call Girl; and acquired content including Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl, and a range of top movies.
ITV3 will offer most of its catalogue of recent drama in high definition, including the likes of Lewis, Marple, Above Suspicion, and landmark factual series such as Joanna Lumley's Nile and Martin Clunes: Islands of Britain. An increasing amount of ITV3's classic drama will be broadcast in high definition as ITV re-masters its extensive back-catalogue. ITV4's high definition content will include premium sports events such as Tour de France and UEFA Europa League, as well as films.
As Europe's most comprehensive HD service, 2.9 million Sky+HD homes can currently access up to 43 HD channels spanning entertainment, sports, movies, arts, drama, kids and documentaries, including channel brands such as Sky Sports, Sky Movies, FX, Discovery, Channel 4, Sky Arts, MTV, Nat Geo, ESPN, Disney, the BBC and Sky1.
The Sky+HD box not only provides access to Europe's leading HD service and Sky's new HD electronic programme guide (EPG), but later this year it will also offer customers access to full broadband-enabled video-on-demand service and Sky 3D, Europe's first 3D TV channel, which launches to Sky homes on 1st October 2010.
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