New logo links Channel to national television

CHANNEL Television has new branding to move with the times. The new title, ITV Channel Television, is designed to tie in the on-air logo with its off-air one and complement that of ITV News in the UK.

Managing director Michael Lucas said that extensive research last year suggested that the station should adopt a more up-to-date label to reflect its work.

'There were lots of positives. But there were also some negatives - it was felt, despite daily news programmes, we were not 24/7 because our local programmes were available only at specific times.

'They also viewed our branding on air as mixed and in conflict - there was Channel Television with its own look and the ?Heart of the Islands? slogan broadcast at the same time as the ITV brand with its own image,' he said.

In response, the company launched a website, which now streams the majority of news programmes 24 hours a day.

ITV plc now owns 11 of the 15 regional licensees so the local company decided to integrate more closely with national and regional news output.

'Since much of our local news programming was now part of the ITV news programmes and the national and local look were much the same, we decided to blend the national and local names to create ITV Channel Television,' said Mr Lucas.