ITN news deal for Channel 5

ITN has won the contract to produce Channel 5's news.

The deal follows an agreement by Sky, which has produced the bulletins for the last six years, and Northern & Shell, which owns Channel 5, to terminate their 5 News contract early.

ITN originally launched the news service in 1997 and produced it until 2005.

Channel 5 director of programming Jeff Ford said: "Over the last six years, Sky News has provided a news service which has helped to place Channel 5 at the forefront of public service news distribution.

"As we enter our second year under new ownership and with recent boosts in ratings and overall audience share, we continue at pace as a competitive terrestrial broadcaster.

"Through this new deal with ITN, we have a partner which will help to take us into the next phase of our news distribution and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership."

ITN will produce the news, which is fronted by Matt Barbet and Emma Crosby, for an initial three-year term beginning early next year.

PA