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ITV Digital used to be the sole British terrestrial digital television broadcaster. It was launched as ONdigital in 1998, the world's first digital terrestrial televison network. It was subsequently rebranded as ITV Digital in July 2001. Its main shareholders were the UK ITV broadcasters Carlton Communications plc and Granada plc (who have since merged to form ITV plc).Following an expensive deal with The Football League and disappointing takeup of its digital TV service, it was placed into administration on 27 March 2002. Most subscription channels stopped broadcasting on ITV Digital on 1 May 2002. The collapse caused severe financial difficulties for lower-division football clubs who had budgeted for large incomes from the television contract.
It had a famous advertising campaign involving the comedian Johnny Vegas and a knitted monkey (voiced by Ben Miller). A replica knitted monkey could be obtained by signing up to ITV Digital. Because the monkey could not be obtained without signing up to the service, a popular market for second-hand monkeys developed. At one time original ITV Digital Monkeys were fetching several hundred pounds on eBayeBay is a very successful online auction website, at which people from all around the world buy and sell goods and services. About eBay was founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar as "AuctionWeb", part of a larger personal site that included, among other things and even knitting patterns delivered by email were sold for several pounds.
A consortium made up of the BBC, BSkyBBritish Sky Broadcasting BSkyB formerly two companies, Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting which merged) is a company that operates the most popular subscription television service in the UK and Ireland. It also produces TV content, and TV c and Crown Castle International has been given ITV Digital's old broadcasting license, and launched the FreeviewFreeview is a free-to-air digital television service in the United Kingdom broadcast from terrestrial transmitters using the DVB-T standard. Launched on October 30 2002 at 6am, it took over the DTT licence to broadcast from the defunct ITV Digital. Unlike service on October 30October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 62 days remaining. Events 1470 Henry VI of England returns to the throne after Earl of Warwick defeats Yorkists in battle. 1831 In Southampton County, Virginia, 2002, offering 30 free-to-air channels but no subscription or premium services.
Ironically, ITV Digital operated out of Marco Polo HouseMarco Polo House is a large, mainly glass designed, building next to Battersea Power Station in South London. It was originally home to British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) television in the late 1980s. When BSB merged with Sky to form BSkyB they held the, the south London building that had once housed the lavish headquarters of British Satellite Broadcasting.
See also: British Sky Broadcasting
1 Timeline of events
- 1997
- 25 June 1997 - The ITC award the sole DTT broadcast licence to British Digital Broadcasting
- 20 December 1997 - The ITC award the three pay TV digital multiplex licences to BDB
- 1998
- 29 July 1998 - BDB rebrand as ONdigital
- 15 November 1998 - Formal broadcasting begins
- 2000
- 1 May 2000 - Formal broadcasting of PPV service ONrequest begins
- 2001
- 11 July 2001 - ONdigital rebrand as ITV Digital
- 22 August 2001 - PPV service ONrequest rebrands as ITV Select
- 2002
- 27 March 2002 - Placed into administration
- 1 May 2002 - Pay-TV operations cease
- 30 October 2002 - Formal broadcasting of replacement Freeview service begins
