LAUNCH DATE SET FOR ITV NEWS AT TEN

ITV have confirmed that their late evening news bulletin will move to ten o’clock from January 22.
For the first time in ITV’s history the network will broadcast two news bulletins in weekday peak time, at 6.30pm and 10.00pm.
ITV Director of Programmes, David Liddament, said: “'News' at Ten is an immensely powerful brand with positive appeal for viewers, important qualities in this highly competitive market. We’re reuniting the famous 'News at Ten' name with Britain’s most popular newscaster, Trevor McDonald. With the news back at ten and the flexibility to show live sport, drama and feature films uninterrupted, we believe this is a strong proposition for our viewers.”
The ITV Evening News at 6.30pm, formerly presented by Trevor McDonald (pictured), will have a new, co-anchor line-up with Dermot Murnaghan and Mary Nightingale, who was recently appointed to cover Kirsty Young’s maternity leave.
John Suchet will be the sole anchor of the ITV Lunchtime News at 12.30pm. Katie Derham will present the ITV Weekend News from Fridays to Sundays, in addition to her role as media arts correspondent for ITV News. Nicholas Owen will present various news bulletins across the schedule including weekday and weekend programming.
Nigel Dacre, Editor of ITV News said: “Time and again the award-winning ITN news team have been recognised by the audience as bringing them an unbeatable formula of authoritative journalism with enormous popular appeal. We believe we have got a formidable line-up and that the ITV News at Ten will prove attractive to audiences once again.”
Plans for the launch of ITV News at Ten have been underway since agreement was reached between ITV and the ITC in news scheduling in September 2000.
No major changes to the ITV Winter schedule are necessary to accommodate the launch of the new programme.
The return of ITV News at Ten has been welcomed by politicians and commentators. (CD)