ITV Granada is the Channel 3 regional service for North West England and the Isle of Man. The licence for the region has been held by ITV Broadcasting Limited since November 2008. It is the largest independent television-franchise producing company in the UK, accounting for 25% of the total broadcasting output of the ITV network. It had been held by Granada Television, which was founded by Sidney Bernstein and based at Granada Studios on Quay Street in Manchester since its inception. This was the only surviving company of the original four Independent Television Authority franchisees from 1954; Granada Media Group merged with Carlton Communications to form ITV plc in 2004. It covers Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, northwestern Derbyshire, part of Cumbria and North Yorkshire. On 15 July 2009, the Isle of Man was transferred to ITV Granada from ITV Border.
Origins
Early years
Franchise changes
Takeover bids
ITV Granada and the unification of ITV
Present
Studios
Relocation
Identity
Idents
Programmes
Personalities
Granada Studios Tour
G-Wizz
Granada Sky Broadcasting
ONdigital
Granada Plus
Men & Motors
Granada Breeze
Others
Criticisms of perceived Manchester-centric bias
Criticisms and controversies over ''World in Action'' and ''Tonight''