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UTV (TV channel)

{{Short description|Television channel in Northern Ireland}}

{{About|the ITV channel in Northern Ireland|its former parent company formerly known as UTV Media|Wireless Group|other uses|UTV (disambiguation){{!}}UTV}}

{{distinguish|UKTV}}

{{use British English|date=February 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = UTV

| logo =

| logo_size = 150px

| logo_caption = Logo used since 2016

| image = UTV 2015 locator map.svg

| image_size = 150px

| launch_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1959|10|31}} (as Ulster Television)

| network = ITV

| owner = ITV plc

| picture_format = {{plainlist|

}}

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| area = Northern Ireland

| affiliates =

| headquarters = City Quays 2, Belfast, Northern Ireland

| former_names = {{plainlist|

  • Ulster Television
  • (until 4 June 1993)

}}

| replaced_by = ITV1 (on air identity)

| sister_channels = {{flatlist|

}}

| timeshift_service = {{plainlist|

  • UTV +1 (Freeview & Virgin Media)
  • ITV1 +1 Granada (Freesat & Sky)

}}

| website = {{URL|itv.com/utv}}

| terr_serv_1 = Freeview
(Northern Ireland only)

| terr_chan_1 = {{plainlist|

  • Channel 3 (SD)
  • Channel 35 (+1)
  • Channel 103 (HD)

}}

| online_serv_1 = UTV Player until 2016

| online_chan_1 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20140104221226/http://www.u.tv/ u.tv]

| online_serv_2 = ITV Hub (2016–2022)

| online_chan_2 = [https://web.archive.org/web/20190222033345/https://www.itv.com/ www.itv.com]

| online_serv_3 = ITVX (2022–present)

| online_chan_3 = [https://www.itv.com/itv1 www.itv.com]
(Must be logged in to select correct region)

}}

UTV (formerly Ulster Television, branded on air as ITV1 since 2020) is the ITV region covering Northern Ireland, ITV subsidiary and the former on-air name of the free-to-air public broadcast television channel serving the area. It is run by ITV plc and is responsible for the regional news service and programmes made principally for the area by the UTV production team. It currently uses the network ITV1 channel with an opt-out service for local advertising and on-air promos for local programming.

The present day TV service, ITV1, is directly descended from the ITV network, which originally consisted of independent regional companies which were once the only commercial TV broadcasters in their area. UTV held the licence for Northern Ireland and first went on the air on 31 October 1959.{{cite web|url=http://www.utvmedia.com/pages/About-UTV/History|title=History|publisher=UTV Media|access-date=22 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518060946/http://www.utvmedia.com/pages/about-utv/history|archive-date=18 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}

The company itself was formed in November 1958 to apply for the licence – advertised by the Independent Television Authority – and became the first indigenous broadcaster in Ireland. The company later diversified and the UTV television operation was sold by parent UTV Media plc (now known as Wireless Group and part of News UK) to ITV plc in February 2016.

History

{{For timeline|Timeline of Ulster Television}}

File:Havelock House, Belfast.jpg]]

In 1953, the BBC began its first television broadcasts in Northern Ireland, from a temporary relay transmitter in Glencairn that was hastily set up in time for the coronation of Elizabeth II.{{Cite web |title=The Magic Box |url=https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/northernireland/bbcnistory/Exhibitions/MagicBox/MAGIC_BOX_booklet1.pdf |website=The Magic Box – Celebrating 50 years of BBC Television in Northern Ireland}} The following year, the UK Parliament passed the Television Act of 1954, which led to the launch of the country's first commercial television broadcaster, ITV (and subsequently, the beginning of commercial television broadcasts in the United Kingdom).{{sfn|Anderson|2009|p=2}} On 2 September 1958, the ITA began searching for companies and entities interested in operating an ITV franchise for Northern Ireland. Among the candidates for the franchise are Associated-Rediffusion and Granada,{{sfn|Sendall|1983|p=23}} as well as two consortia - one led by the Duke of Abercorn{{efn|Consisting of James Cunningham (then owner and managing director of the now-defunct Northern Whig), George Lodge (owner of the then-standing Belfast Royal Hippodrome and Grand Opera House), and Lawrence Orr (then MP for South Down), with support by the Northern Whig and Belfast Evening Telegraph newspapers.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1p=10|Sendall|1983|2p=23}}}} and the other led by the Earl of Antrim.{{efn|Consisting of William MacQuitty (producer of A Night to Remember), Betty Box (sister of Sydney Box, a fellow film producer who, as part of a consortium that founded the Tyne Tees Television license, encouraged MacQuitty to persue the ITV franchise for Northern Ireland), Francis Evans (then Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Argentina), Bea Lillie, Laurence Olivier, John Rothenstein (then director of the Tate Gallery), and Hubert "Hibbie" Wilmot, with support by the Belfast Newsletter (via the Henderson family) and other local newspapers.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1pp=11 and 12|Sendall|1983|2pp=23-24}}}} The ITA eventually awarded the franchise to the Antrim consortium on 4 November by having the Whig and Telegraph among the franchise shareholders, while also having sufficient Roman Catholic representation.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1pp=11, 12, and 13|Sendall|1983|2p=24}}

With a reluctant MacQuitty as the franchise's founding managing director,{{sfn|Anderson|2009|p=13}} the newly-formed group, Ulster Television Limited, set out to launch the new station on Halloween 1959, giving them less than a year to construct facilities and hire needed personnel within a tight budget.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1pp=13 and 15|Sendall|1983|2pp=24-25, 26, and 27}} The group would purchase Havelock House, then an abandoned linen factory on the Ormeau Road, for £17,000 and convert it into a television studio complex.{{sfn|Anderson|2009|p=17}} Instead of providing six hours a week of local programming (inclucing a full news service) within year one (as stipulated in the franchise contract), UTV would do so in stages, with the twenty-minute weekday magazine programme Roundabout being the first local programme to be produced.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1pp=22, 25, 26-27, and 28, passim|Sendall|1983|2pp=26, 27, 28, and 29, passim}} Ulster Television would sign an affiliation agreement with another broadcaster, ABC Television, to supply the former with programmes and advertising.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1pp=17 and 18|Sendall|1983|2pp=26 and 27}}

=On air=

Ulster Television went on air at 4:45pm on 31 October 1959, with Laurence Olivier (then of Henry V, Hamlet, and Richard III fame) being the first person to appear.{{sfnm|Anderson|2009|1pp=ix and 50|Sendall|1983|2p=29}} During its first minutes on air, it featured children engaging in Halloween festivities, an introduction to Northern Ireland "in words and music" by Richard Hayward, and prerecorded messages from ITV talent. The first programmes to air on Ulster Television are (in order) an episode of The Adventures of Robin Hood, an ITN bulletin, an episode of African Patrol, an episode of Boy Meets Girls (a music programme now wiped), an episode of 77 Sunset Strip, an episode of The Jewel and Warriss Show, another ITN bulletin, a wrestling programme, the 1949 American war film Task Force, and an episode of The Florian Zabach Show.{{sfn|Anderson|2009|p=54}}{{Cite web |title=Opening day for Channel Nine |url=https://transdiffusion.org/2019/10/31/opening-day-for-channel-nine/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Transdiffusion |language=en-GB}} Olivier would then close Ulster Television's inaugural broadcast with an excerpt from Joseph Addison's "The Spacious Firmament".{{sfn|Anderson|2009|p=54}} On that night, some residents from Dublin (which falls outside the station's intended broadcast area) called the station to report poor picture reception.{{sfn|Sendall|1983|p=28}}

The following evening, UTV aired Rich and Rare, a film consisting of thirty images from across Northern Ireland produced by John Loder (then-Governor of Northern Ireland and Lord Wakehurst), followed by A Shilling for the Evil Day (a play by Irish writer Joseph Tomelty, as part of Armchair Theatre).{{sfn|Sendall|1983|p=29}}

At launch, Ulster Television employed a staff of 100 people including six presenters: Ivor Mills and Anne Gregg were chosen as the presenters of local magazine programme Roundabout, Adrienne McGuill, James Greene and Brian Durkin were the first continuity announcers, and former rugby union international Ernest Strathdee was recruited as the station's sports presenter.Extract from Brum Henderson "Brum: A Life in Television", from [https://archive.today/20120722090908/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article873937.ece Belfast Telegraph, "Exclusive: My life on the box"]; dated 4 October 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2008.

Coverage of UTV spread to Western areas of Northern Ireland when the Strabane transmitter opened in February 1963.{{cite web|url=http://tx.mb21.co.uk/info/405/itv/n_ireland.shtml |title=mb21: ITV 405 line TV Transmitters – Northern Ireland |publisher=Tx.mb21.co.uk |date=18 February 1963 |access-date=7 January 2011}}

=1970s–2000s=

Ulster Television's UHF PAL colour service was launched with the opening of the UHF transmitter Divis in September 1970.{{cite web|url=http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/itw/UTV/history.html |title=Independent TeleWeb: Ulster Television – History |publisher=Users.zetnet.co.uk |date=4 November 1958 |access-date=7 January 2011}} This was followed by two additional transmitters at Limavady (opened in 1975) and Brougher Mountain (in 1978). In the early 1980s it broadcast reduced hours when no schools programmes were being broadcast coming on air at 12 noon during the week, and closing down every evening at 23:30 – this remained in place until 1982.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}} In October 1988, the station began 24-hour broadcasting – the last station in the ITV network to do so.[http://www.tv-live.org.uk/wp/index.php/itv/itv/itv-night-time/ TV Live - ITV Night Time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612032309/http://www.tv-live.org.uk/wp/index.php/itv/itv/itv-night-time/ |date=12 June 2014 }} UTV was originally scheduled to take a service provided by Central in Birmingham, but a late minute decision to switch to Granada Television's sustaining feed, Night Time, led to a month-long delay.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}

At the company's annual general meeting in Belfast on 26 May 2006, the registered company name was changed from 'Ulster Television plc' to 'UTV plc'. The company believed that the existing name no longer reflected the full scope of the company's business.[http://www.utvplc.com/uploads/statements/UTVNoticeofAGM2005.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910061534/http://www.utvplc.com/uploads/statements/UTVNoticeofAGM2005.pdf|date=10 September 2006}} In a further change in October 2007, UTV underwent a corporate reorganisation which saw UTV shareholders swap their shares for shares in a new holding company, UTV Media plc, which took over UTV plc's shareholdings in the new media and radio subsidiaries. UTV Ltd. – the original Ulster Television Limited, now a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media – returned to being solely the operating company for the ITV franchise.{{cite web|url=http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200710151201257084F |title=InvestEgate, UTV Media PLC – First Day of Dealings |publisher=Investegate.co.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}

=Sale to ITV and end of local continuity=

On 19 October 2015, UTV Media announced that it would sell its ITV franchise and the UTV brand to ITV plc for £100 million, subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition was finalised the following February. ITV stated that they intended to retain the UTV brand in Northern Ireland.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

The former UTV Media group was restructured and rebranded as the Wireless Group, retaining its radio assets until June 2016, when the company was bought by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.{{cite web|url=http://m.rte.ie/news/business/2016/0630/799258-newscorp/|title=News Corp to buy Irish radio stations|date=30 June 2016|publisher=RTÉ}} On 11 July 2016, ITV plc announced that was selling the UTV Ireland service to Virgin Media Ireland for €10 million. Virgin Media Ireland was a subsidiary of Liberty Media and had already bought Ireland's TV3 in 2015).{{cite web|title=John Malone's Virgin Buys Broadcaster UTV Ireland |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/global/john-malone-virgin-irish-broadcaster-utv-1201811849/|website=Variety|date=11 July 2016|access-date=12 July 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/tv3-owner-virgin-media-buys-utv-ireland-for-10m-1.2718283|title=TV3 owner Virgin Media buys UTV Ireland for €10m|newspaper=The Irish Times }}

In October 2016, ITV announced plans to close UTV's Havelock House studios.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37658657 |title=UTV to relocate from Belfast's Havelock House |website=BBC News |date=14 October 2016}} UTV began broadcasting from a new broadcast centre at City Quays 2 in the Belfast Harbour Estate from 1 July 2018.

File:ITV1 logo (2022).svg

Local continuity announcements ended in April 2020, effectively rebranding the channel as ITV in line with all other ITV plc regions. This change was made permanent in November 2020. The ITV channel (including UTV) rebranded as ITV1 in November 2022.{{Cite web |title=ITV will rebrand main channel as ITV1 alongside launch of ITVX |first=Patrick |last=Cremona |date=5 October 2022 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/itv-rebrand-channel-itv1-newsupdate/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Radio Times |language=en}} The UTV name continues to be used for local programming, notably the news service UTV Live, and in on-air promotions for local non-news programmes.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Programming

UTV's focus has always been on programmes made explicitly for viewers in Northern Ireland, but until the 1990s it also made a number of contributions to the ITV network and Channel 4, many of which were in some way about the province.

=Current/recent series=

{{Div col}}

  • UTV Live{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2020-06-29/catch-up-with-the-latest-edition-of-utv-live |title=UTV Live |publisher=ITV News - UTV |access-date=21 April 2021}}
  • UTV Life{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/utvprogrammes/tags/utv-life |title=UTV Life |publisher=ITV - UTV Programmes |access-date=21 April 2021}}
  • View from Stormont{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/utvprogrammes/tags/view-from-stormont |title=View from Stormont |publisher=ITV - UTV Programmes |access-date=21 April 2021}}
  • Up Close{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/utvprogrammes/tags/up-close |title=Up Close |publisher=ITV - UTV Programmes |access-date=21 April 2021}}
  • Hidden NI{{cite web | url=https://www.itv.com/utvprogrammes/tags/hidden-ni | title=Hidden NI }}
  • Lesser Spotted Ulster[http://u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=649&y=2009 UTV Press Office: "UTV celebrates 50 years of broadcasting this autumn"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106204711/http://www.u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=649&y=2009 |date=6 January 2016 }} UTV Press Office, 17 September 2009; accessed 20 September 2009
  • Lesser Spotted Culture{{cite web |url=http://u.tv/entertainment/Joe-Mahon-to-host-Lesser-Spotted-Culture/6037ebee-16d8-420c-9872-0088e7e9b3ab |title=Joe Mahon to host Lesser Spotted Culture |publisher=UTV |date=7 December 2012 |access-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110022558/http://www.u.tv/Entertainment/Joe-Mahon-to-host-Lesser-Spotted-Culture/6037ebee-16d8-420c-9872-0088e7e9b3ab |archive-date=10 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
  • Lough Foyle{{cite web|url=https://www.northernirelandscreen.co.uk/news/ulster-scots-broadcast-fund/joe-mahon-returns-beautiful-new-utv-series-lough-foyle/|title=Joe Mahon returns in a beautiful new UTV series about Lough Foyle|date=11 September 2020|access-date=2021-01-15}}
  • The Issue{{cite web |url=http://u.tv/utvplayer/video/152056 |title=UTV Player | Watch The Issue |publisher=UTV |access-date=22 June 2013 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • The Magazine{{cite web |url=http://u.tv/Articles/Articles.aspx?tagguid=F6F3B893-4714-4083-AE9B-0F833E5B5650 |title=The Magazine - with Sarah Travers |publisher=UTV |access-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629130541/http://www.u.tv/Articles/Articles.aspx?tagguid=F6F3B893-4714-4083-AE9B-0F833E5B5650 |archive-date=29 June 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
  • Paul and Nick's Big Food Trip[http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/F/I/N/FINAL_Paul_and_Nicks_Big_Food_Trip.docx "'Paul and Nick's Big Food Trip' starts on UTV"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024030330/http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/F/I/N/FINAL_Paul_and_Nicks_Big_Food_Trip.docx |date=24 October 2012 }}; UTV Press Office, 5 April 2012; accessed 9 May 2012
  • Rare Breed: A Farming Year[http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/P/r/e/Press_release__Rare_Breed_A_Farming_Year.docx "'Rare Breed: A Farming Year' starts on UTV"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201162938/http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/P/r/e/Press_release__Rare_Breed_A_Farming_Year.docx |date=1 February 2012 }}; UTV Press Office, 10 January 2012; accessed 9 May 2012
  • RPM{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/28994 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222113/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/28994 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}[http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/N/E/W/NEW_FACES_FOR_RPM_ON_UTV_THIS_SPRING.docx "New faces for 'RPM' on UTV this Spring"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031052118/http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/N/E/W/NEW_FACES_FOR_RPM_ON_UTV_THIS_SPRING.docx |date=31 October 2012 }}; UTV Press Office, 27 March 2012; accessed 9 May 2012
  • Ulster Unearthed{{cite web |url=http://u.tv/Entertainment/UTV-unearths-Ulster-Scots-heritage/fc911750-c9cb-466b-bab0-9d76f71e2165 |title=UTV unearths Ulster-Scots heritage |publisher=UTV |date=7 January 2013 |access-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130211091032/http://www.u.tv/Entertainment/UTV-unearths-Ulster-Scots-heritage/fc911750-c9cb-466b-bab0-9d76f71e2165 |archive-date=11 February 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
  • Ultimate Ulster[http://u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=650&y=2009 "Ultimate Ulster returns with new series on Friday nights"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209121823/http://www.u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=650&y=2009 |date=9 February 2016 }} UTV Press Office, 18 September 2009; accessed 20 September 2009[http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/U/U/_/UU_Launch_News_Release_113047.docx "New series of 'Ultimate Ulster' starts this Easter"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501172534/http://www.utvmedia.com/resources/documents/U/U/_/UU_Launch_News_Release_113047.docx |date=1 May 2013 }} UTV Press Office, 19 April 2011; accessed 9 May 2012

{{Div col end}}

=Notable programmes shown on the ITV network=

  • Password (1987–1988)[https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222104/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26607 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.

=Contributions to series on the ITV network=

{{Div col}}

  • About Britain[https://web.archive.org/web/20080104163052/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/2462 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Comedy Playhouse ("Sailortown"; co-production with Central Television and Carlton Television, 20 April 1993)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286031 Internet Movie Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090531033105/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/488562 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Dramarama ("Undertow of the Armada", 15 June 1987)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248588 Internet Movie Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080530222105/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/381296 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Get Fresh[https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222151/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/633172 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Ghost Train[https://web.archive.org/web/20090129202030/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/628605 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Highway[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116073116/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/8660 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • ITV Playhouse ("Boatman Do Not Tarry", 8 July 1968){{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0894147|title="ITV Playhouse" Boatman Do Not Tarry (TV Episode 1968)|work=IMDb}}
  • Morning Worship[https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222342/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/5578 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Sounds of Britain[https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222408/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/577496 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • The Time, The Place[https://web.archive.org/web/20090203024821/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/604575 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  • Treasures in Store[https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222352/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/223291 BFI Film and TV Database]. Retrieved 15 June 2008.

{{Div col end}}

=Notable programmes shown on Channel 4=

{{Div col}}

  • The Irish R.M. (co-production with RTÉ; 1983–1985, 3 series){{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144053|title=The Irish R.M. (TV Series 1983–1985)|author=Simon McClean|date=16 October 1998|work=IMDb}}
  • Ulster Landscapes (1983){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/14935 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222247/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/14935 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • Trauma (1983){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/14615 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222242/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/14615 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • Make It Pay (1983–1985){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/10292 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222227/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/10292 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • A Seat Among the Stars: The Cinema in Ireland (1984){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/13224 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222233/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/13224 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • How Does Your Garden Grow? (1986–1992){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/20622 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222258/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/20622 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • The Last of a Dyin' Race (one-off drama; 1987){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/260936 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206183645/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/260936 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 February 2009 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |date=16 April 2009 |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • God's Frontiermen (4-part drama series; 1989){{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18791 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222252/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18791 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}

{{Div col end}}

=Notable regional programmes=

{{Div col}}

  • All Mixed Up{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/30421 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222322/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/30421 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • Counterpoint{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/1249 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222044/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/1249 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • Farming Ulster{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/204546 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222123/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/204546 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |date=16 April 2009 |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • (UTV Live) Insight{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/28642 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222108/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/28642 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • Jenny Bristow cookery series{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/424560?view=credit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222221/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/424560?view=credit |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • Kelly{{cite web |url=http://u.tv/kelly02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020923214412/http://u.tv/kelly02/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 September 2002 |title=Kelly home page |publisher=u.tv |access-date=7 January 2011 }}
  • McGilloway's Way{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/442310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215222403/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/442310 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |date=16 April 2009 |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • McKeever{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/31335 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609195948/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/31335 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2008 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • School Around the Corner – created by the show's original presenter Paddy Crosbie{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/22957 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317220345/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/22957 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 March 2008 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}
  • The Seven Thirty Show[http://u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=627&y=2009 UTV Press Office: "Timely launch for new UTV series"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019171922/http://www.u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=627&y=2009 |date=19 October 2015 }} UTV Press Office, 27 May 2009; accessed 20 September 2009
  • UTV Live Tonight[http://u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=630&y=2009 UTV Press Office: "UTV launches new weeknights news and current affairs programming"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209121823/http://www.u.tv/newsreleases/release.aspx?cat=Press&pr=630&y=2009 |date=9 February 2016 }}; dated 24 April 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  • UTV School Choir of the Year{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26243 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315034146/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/26243 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 March 2008 |title=BFI Film and TV Database |publisher=Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk |access-date=7 January 2011}}

{{Div col end}}

=Regional news programmes=

{{Div col}}

  • Roundabout (1959–1964)
  • Newsview (1964–1969)
  • UTV Reports/Reports (1969–1978)
  • Good Evening Ulster (1979–1987)
  • Six Tonight/Ulster Newstime (1987–1992)
  • UTV Live (1993 to date)

{{Div col end}}

Visual identity and presentation

{{More references|section|date=May 2024}}

Before ITV branding was introduced in 2020, UTV/Ulster Television used a number of different logos, or idents on-screen over the years.

  • 1959 – The station's first on-screen logo was an oscilloscope pattern made up of seven dots joined by six lines. The logo animated to a jingle based on the local folk tune The Mountains of Mourne. According to UTV's website, the original logo was designed as part of a competition, and the winner among over 450 entrants was Mr Roy Irwin of Ballycarry.
  • 1970 – With the imminent launch of UHF colour broadcasts, Ulster Television redesigned its first logo – the oscilloscope pattern was retained; but the dots were removed, and the lines were encased in a television-screen shape. Monochrome and colour versions of this ident were produced, the colour using a yellow logo and text on a blue background, which were adopted as the station's colour scheme. UTV's ident at this time did not animate and was not accompanied by a jingle. The logo type introduced on this ident was retained until 1993.
  • 1980 – To celebrate their 21st anniversary, UTV commissioned a new ident featuring a model of the station logo embedded on four faces of a cube, coated in silver with a pole skewering the top and bottom of the cube. This model was then filmed on video with a black cloth background as it revolved on a turntable. When it appeared on screen, it was accompanied by a synthesised jingle, and the words "Ulster Television" wiped on screen in yellow text. This ident made its on-screen debut on Halloween Day 1980, and it was used until New Year's Eve 1988.
  • 1987 – On 7 September 1987, to coincide with the launch of the station's new evening magazine programme, Six Tonight, a new ident was used to introduce the programme, featuring a computer-animated silver station logo on a blue/green backdrop. After five seconds, the logo faded into the background as the titles of Six Tonight began. This ident, UTV's first attempt at a CGI ident, was later adapted as a temporary station ident in the last few months of 1988, with a video freeze used as the logo sank into the background.
  • 1989 – On New Year's Day 1989 a revised computer animation was introduced and the last to feature the oscilloscope logo and the "Ulster Television" name.{{cite web |url=http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itv_ulster/idents.html |title=Ulster Television Idents & Continuity |publisher=TVARK |access-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521061649/http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/itv_ulster/idents.html |archive-date=21 May 2012 |df=dmy-all }} The ident began with a panning shot over a huge plate with texture to make it look like frost or ice (possibly a white and gray cloudy texture), against a light blue background. Then, an oscilloscope rises out from the plate, and the lines of the oscilloscope pattern are formed with a wipe. In this ident, the lines of the oscilloscope are yellow, with the rest of the logo (the television screen shape) in blue. When the lines are formed, the logo turns and reveals on screen, as a grey banner flies in underneath bearing the words "Ulster Television" and settles underneath the station logo, waving like a flag. This ident was accompanied by a new jingle, and was used until 4 June 1993.

File:UTV logo (1993-2001).svg

  • 1993 – At 6pm on 4 June 1993, UTV officially unveiled a new logo. This consisted of an italicised Times Roman capital U forming on screen from different component parts, settling on a blue and yellow plate with "TV" written in italicised red Agency FB Font text. A new jingle was also introduced with a distinct Celtic sound. Since the start of 1993, continuity announcements and trailers referred increasingly to "UTV", and the station's news service was rebranded as UTV Live. With the new logo, the use of "Ulster Television" to identify the station was consigned to history. It also dropped ITV network promotions and introduced locally produced trails.{{Citation needed|date=July 2016}}
  • 1996 – UTV introduced a new series of idents on 11 November 1996, which showcased scenic locations in Northern Ireland. These include the Giant's Causeway, a waterfall at Glenarriff, and Portaferry harbour. These are supplemented on 12 January 1998 with a set of idents featuring people playing the UTV jingle on various musical instruments. Some of the idents featured UTV personalities. It also dropped live daytime continuity.

File:UTV logo 2012.svg

  • 2000 – On 1 July 2000, the day when programme presentation and commercials shown on the four main UK television channels switched from the 4:3 aspect ratio to 14:9 on analogue broadcasts and 16:9 on digital broadcasts, UTV refused to adopt the 1999 ITV Hearts look and introduced a new set of idents inspired by the 1989 ITV generic ident featuring a stripe on a black background using footage from the 1996 "landscape" idents, the break filler films used on its short-lived sister channel TV You, and a UTV corporate advertisement where a shoal of fish grouped together to form the 1993 logo. This collection of idents were the first to be created and transmitted in 16:9 aspect ratio, on digital terrestrial and digital cable providers. This was the last set of idents which used the 1993 logo, and they were phased out shortly before Christmas 2000, when a new logo was introduced.
  • 2001 – The 1993 logo was later replaced with a similar flatter and wider logo. The "U" is rendered in yellow on a blue oblong, with the "TV" in red on a yellow oblong contained inside the blue oblong. Its first use was in UTV's 2000 Christmas ident, replacing the previous set. On 6 January 2001, a new series of idents shot at various locations across Northern Ireland, including the Silent Valley Reservoir in County Down, Great Victoria Street in Belfast and the Hands Across the Divide sculpture at the Craigavon Bridge, Derry. This was complemented by further idents in 2002 featuring people walking towards the camera and touching the screen with their fingers to make the UTV logo appear.
  • 2002 – On 28 October 2002, most of the regional ITV companies adopted a common look with the ITV1 brand replacing the various station logos. This was marked with a series of idents showing actors, presenters and newsreaders associated with ITV appearing in idents. At the same time, UTV decided to adopt these idents, but replaced the ITV logo with their own station logo. The soundtrack used on these idents was identical to those heard on the ITV network versions. This is the nearest that UTV had come to using identical idents to the rest of the ITV network. Around Christmas 2002, UTV broadcast a similar collection of idents showcasing their own presenting talent, shown in addition to the national idents. By early 2003, the network and local celebrity idents were phased out, and a generic ident showing the UTV logo on an animated blue background was used in all junctions.
  • 2003 – UTV replaces its network-inspired graphics on 20 November 2003 with a series landscape films of Northern Ireland in their idents, in the form of a panorama shot as the camera revolved around a location.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0305_1.html UTV Today: 2003–05 Scenery Idents (Old Soundtrack)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106182232/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0305_1.html |date=6 January 2009 }}. Retrieved 4 January 2009. Among the scenes used in this series of UTV idents included the Mourne Mountains, Enniskillen and Lurgan Park.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0305_1.html UTV Today: 2003–05 Scenery Idents (Old Soundtrack)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106182232/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0305_1.html |date=6 January 2009 }}. Retrieved 1 April 2008. These idents primarily used one of the ident jingles until 3 November 2005, when UTV reprised its 1993–2002 station jingle.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0306_1.html UTV Today: 2003–06 Scenery Idents: New Soundtrack] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106180621/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0306_1.html |date=6 January 2009 }}. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
  • 2006 – To coincide with the introduction of a new identity across ITV plc stations on Monday 16 January 2006, UTV replaced its 2003 idents with a brand new set.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0607_about.html UTV Today: 2006–07 Scenery Idents: About These Idents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106170258/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0607_about.html |date=6 January 2009 }}. Retrieved 1 April 2008. The new idents featured newly recorded films shot across Northern Ireland, again in the form of panoramas. The landscape films used in these idents were updated in July 2007 and October 2008,[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0708_about.html UTV Today: 2007–08 Scenery Idents – About These Idents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215143936/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0708_about.html |date=15 February 2011 }}. Retrieved 4 January 2009. with the background of each ident changing from black to white in December 2008.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/09_about.html UTV Today: 2009 Scenery Idents – About These Idents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215185656/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/09_about.html |date=15 February 2011 }}. Retrieved 4 January 2009. Special variations of the UTV idents were used to promote the 2006 North West 200 event,[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0607_special.html UTV Today: 2006–07 Scenery Idents – Special Idents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215144455/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0607_special.html |date=15 February 2011 }}. Retrieved 4 January 2009. 2006 Special Olympics, the 2007 Rugby World Cup[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0708_special.html UTV Today: 2007–08 Scenery Idents – Special Idents] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216032824/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0708_special.html |date=16 February 2011 }}. Retrieved 4 January 2009. and the UTV Rewind series.[http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0708_rewind.html UTV Today: 2007–08 Scenery Idents – UTV Rewind] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215144500/http://www.utvtoday.co.uk/idents/0708_rewind.html |date=15 February 2011 }}. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  • 2016 – On 17 October 2016, a brand new look was unveiled, aligning the UTV brand more closely with that of the ITV channel. The station idents, based on those used by ITV since a major rebrand in January 2013, included the UTV logo changing colour as it blended in on a live-action scene - a process known as "colour picking".[http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/utvs-new-channel-identity-goes-live UTV's new channel identity goes live], itv.com, 17 October 2016
  • 2020 – Since 2 April 2020, UTV has taken full ITV branding and presentation from London including network announcements, idents, promos and end credit sequences. This was initially announced as a temporary measure due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on staff at the Belfast studios.{{cite tweet|number=1245410719912341509|user=cleanfeed_ttvr|author=Clean Feed @ The TV Room|title=NEWS: tonight's announcement by UTV, about coronavirus-related changes - including the suspension of local (UTV) on… |date=1 April 2020}} Local continuity was officially abandoned in November 2020 with the departures of the announcing team.[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/end-of-era-at-utv-as-julian-simmons-and-gillian-porter-exit-39795035.html End of era at UTV as Julian Simmons and Gillian Porter exit], Belfast Telegraph, 26 November 2020

=Local continuity=

Until April 2020, UTV was one of two stations in the ITV network – and the only one owned by ITV plc – to have its own continuity announcers.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

UTV was also the last company in the network to retain in-vision continuity links, where the duty announcer appeared on-camera to introduce the evening's programmes. In later years, local continuity was generally restricted to evenings with in-vision links presented at weekends by senior announcer Julian Simmons. In 2009, the practice was restored to weekday evenings and presented by the entire announcing team.

Following the sale of UTV, ITV plc transferred most of the station's presentation operations from the Havelock House studios in Belfast to Red Bee Media in Chiswick, which provides playout services for most of ITV's channels.

The last live in-vision announcement was made by Simmons at 11.15 pm on Sunday 16 October 2016, marking the end of 57 years of local transmission.

Two of UTV's longest-serving announcers, Julian Simmons and Gillian Porter, were retained to pre-record out-of-vision continuity – with Aidan Browne providing relief cover – until 2 April 2020, when the channel began taking ITV-branded network presentation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In November 2020, it was reported the announcing team had left UTV following a decision to switch permanently to network continuity. The last known announcement, voiced by Porter, aired at 5.59 am on Thursday 2 April 2020.

In April 2021, a local voice-over started to be used over the ident before some local programmes.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} A new bumper with the UTV logo and the tagline "Part of ITV" was also shown for a short time before some – but not all – commercial breaks.{{Cite web |url=https://theident.gallery/player.php/UTV-2021-PRESENTATION-1-240421 |access-date=2021-04-25 |title=UTV or ITV? |website=The Ident Gallery}}

=Station theme tunes=

In common with the rest of the ITV Network, the station aired specially composed signature tunes as part of its daily start-up routine. From launch until 1971, the opening theme was Seamus by the American musician, composer and bandleader Van Phillips, who had earlier written the theme tune of the popular 1950s BBC radio science fiction drama Journey into Space. UTV's best-known theme was The Antrim Road, a classical symphony composed by Wayne Hill and Earl Ward, which was used between 1971 and 1983. It originally featured on The British Isles, an LP of orchestral arrangements of traditional and characteristic national tunes of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The album was released on the De Wolf label in 1971.

HD and timeshift

=ITV1 HD (UTV region) =

ITV's service for the UTV region is available in HD – like most other ITV regions – but UTV was one of the first stations in the ITV network to offer a full HD simulcast in its days as an independent company.

UTV HD, a simulcast of UTV in high-definition, was launched on Virgin Media on 5 October 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a280349/utv-hd-launches-on-virgin-media-ni.html|title=UTV HD launches on Virgin Media NI|publisher=Digital Spy|date=5 October 2010}} It became available on Freeview when the digital switchover took place on 24 October 2012 and on Sky and Freesat on 4 November 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.u.tv/News/UTV-signs-new-network-deal/d4815924-857b-4d73-b4b5-ec6bc7c1441a|title=UTV signs new network deal|publisher=UTV Live|date=5 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308040127/http://www.u.tv/News/UTV-signs-new-network-deal/d4815924-857b-4d73-b4b5-ec6bc7c1441a|archive-date=8 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2013/03/utv-hd-on-satellite-delayed-launch-now.html|title=UTV HD on satellite delayed - launch now expected by end of 2013|work=a516digital |date=9 March 2013}}

For the first few months, the only true HD content came from the ITV network but after an upgrade local material including adverts started to be played out in HD.

In May 2011, the presentation infrastructure was upgraded to become fully HD-capable in readiness for the digital switchover in 2012.

=ITV1 +1 (Services offered in Northern Ireland) =

A delayed version of the full ITV1 service for the UTV region is available on Freeview and Virgin Media.

The timeshift service – branded UTV+1 before the station adopted ITV branding in 2020 – launched at 8pm on 11 January 2011 on Freeview and Virgin Media. UTV +1 however didn't launch on Sky and Freesat until 21 May 2018.

On 13 April 2021, ITV stopped broadcasting UTV +1 on satellite. ITV +1 Granada was added to Sky in Northern Ireland to replace UTV +1.{{Cite web|url=https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-TV/ITV-SD-closes-on-13-April/ba-p/3661715|title = ITV SD closes on 13 April|date = 5 April 2021}}

UTV 2

{{Main|UTV2}}

File:UTV2 logo.svg

The channel was launched on June 28, 1999, originally named TV You. In 2000, it was rebranded as UTV2. Its programming mainly featured simulcasts with ITV2, which was broadcast in England, Wales, and the Scottish Borders.

Additionally, the channel aired archive programs from UTV. It was free from advertising and eventually closed following a deal with ITV Digital.

UTV Ireland

{{Main|Virgin Media Three}}

File:UTV Ireland logo.jpg

UTV Ireland was a short-lived sister station to UTV's Northern Ireland service, broadcasting to the Republic of Ireland.

The new channel launched on New Year's Day 2015, following approval by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.{{cite web|url=http://www.bai.ie/?p=4493|title=BAI Signs Content Contract with 'UTV Ireland'|work=bai.ie|date=27 February 2014 }}

UTV Ireland was broadcast from the company's Dublin base at Macken House and carried a large amount of ITV's networked programming (including Emmerdale and Coronation Street, previously broadcast by TV3) alongside some bespoke programming, including Ireland Live, a twice nightly national news programme airing at 5.30 pm and 10 pm.{{cite web|url=http://utvireland.ie/|title=UTV Ireland - Ireland's new home for unmissable entertainment, news & current affairs|work=UTV Ireland|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140607124401/http://utvireland.ie/|archive-date=7 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/five-senior-tv3-executives-defect-to-new-broadcaster-utv-30267862.html|title=Five senior TV3 executives defect to new broadcaster UTV|work=Independent.ie|date=13 May 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.ie/star/tv3-hits-back-at-rival-utv-irish-station-44118/|title=Irish Daily Star - Better because we're Irish|work=Irish Daily Star|access-date=7 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184347/http://www.thestar.ie/star/tv3-hits-back-at-rival-utv-irish-station-44118/|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Ratings and advertising revenue were disappointing which meant the costs of the new station were greater than UTV Media had expected. This played a part in the company's decision to sell the whole television business to ITV plc.

In July 2016, the channel was sold on by ITV to TV3 Group (now known as Virgin Media Television) which then, effectively, closed it.

It was replaced by a substantially new channel called Be3 on 9 January 2017. This new channel was rebranded as Virgin Media Three in August 2018. It focuses on children's and female-orientated programming.

Explanatory footnotes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

=Sources=

  • {{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Don |title=Fifty Years of UTV |date=2009 |publisher=Gill and Macmillan |isbn=978-0-7171-4454-9 |location=Dublin}}
  • {{Cite book |last=Sendall |first=Bernard |title=Independent Television in Britain |volume=2: Expansion and Change, 1958-1968 |date=1983 |publisher=MacMillan |isbn=978-0-333-30942-1 |location=London |chapter=Ulster |pages=22–32}}

External links

  • {{itv.com|id=utvprogrammes|title=UTV programmes}}
  • {{itv.com|id=news/utv/|title=UTV News}}

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