ITV1

Launched in September 1955, the commercial network ITV was established to offer competition to BBC Television. By September 1962, every region in the UK had its own local ITV station. Distinctively, ITV was structured as a network of fifteen regional franchises, each operating under the authority of the ITA/IBA. During its first four decades, ITV experienced significant internal politics surrounding scheduling, programming, and national presentation.

The 1991 Broadcasting Act facilitated a wave of mergers and acquisitions. By 2004, ITV plc had gained control over all the English franchises, with Channel and UTV eventually following suit. STV continues to manage the two Scottish franchises. From 2002 to 2013, the network rebranded itself as ITV1, aiming to unify its national presentation and promote its newly launched spin-off channel. The channel underwent a few name changes: it was called ITV1 from 2006 to 2013, rebranded as ITV from 2013 to 2022, and reverted back to ITV1 on November 15, 2022.