ITV plc (LSE: ITV) is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom. The network, which is currently branded ITV1 by ITV plc, has vied with the British Broadcasting Corporation's BBC One for the status of the UK's most watched channel since the 1950s (a crown it only lost in 2005).
The company was formed by the merger of Granada plc, the parent company of Granada Television, and Carlton Communications however it was effectively a takeover by Granada of Carlton with Granada being valued at about twice the worth of Carlton and getting 60% of the newly formed ITV plc with Carlton gaining the smaller 40% stake. It began trading on 2 February 2004. This was the most recent stage in a long process of mergers between the original ITV regional franchises, however it acquired the remaining 25% of the Breakfast franchise holder, GMTV, from the Walt Disney Company in 2009 and also Channel Television from its previous owners Yattendon Group plc in 2011.
ITV plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.