Closure
In December 2005 it was confirmed that the channel would close down in 2006, in order to use its Freeview bandwidth (which was already timeshared with ITV4) to launch the CITV channel based on the existing CITV brand, and to use its funding to boost ITV News coverage on the main ITV Network. But on 15 December 2005 the decision was taken to close the ITV News Channel.
The closure was subsequently brought forward and the channel closed down on Friday 23 December 2005 at 18:00 (GMT). The reason given was that it would have been unfair to expect the channel's staff to work long hours over Christmas knowing that the channel would soon be closing.
The schedule for the last day of transmission on the ITV News Channel:
- 0700 The Scott Chisholm Show
- 1000 Live with Alastair Stewart
- 1145 The Scott Chisholm Show
- 1230 ITV Lunchtime News simulcast
- 1330 Live with Faye Barker
- 1500 Live with Nicholas Owen and Nina Hossain
- 1600 Live with Owen Thomas and Faye Barker
- 1730 SPECIAL: 5 Years Of the News Channel, presented by Alastair Stewart.
At the end of the final programme, newsreader Alastair Stewart closed the channel with the words:
"So that's the end of five years broadcasting as the ITV News Channel. Our thanks to all our contributors, studio and production staff, to all the reporters and correspondents and everyone who made the channel the professional and effective operation that it was. But most of all, you, our viewers. A big thank you to each and every one of you. We hope we both informed and occasionally entertained you over the years. It was our mission to bring you the fastest breaking news and the most comprehensive analysis. We hope that you'll think we succeeded. "
The screen then faded out to black followed by a picture of the ITN end board. The station closed shortly afterwards.
Read more about this topic: ITV News Channel