LONDON -- Independent Television News is launching a 24-hour news channel in partnership with U.K. cabler NTL.
The digital service to launch later this year will be a rival to Sky News and BBC News 24, who are already fiercely competitive.
It had been expected that ITN which supplies news to the ITV network, Channel 4 and Channel 5 would make such a move.
The ITN-branded channel has a carriage deal in place with NTL and will also be on SkyDigital, satcaster BSkyB's platform. Negotiations for additional carriage are underway.
ITN chief exec Stewart Purvis said: "In NTL we have found a perfect partner to exploit the opportunities offered by new technology and digital broadcasting, including interactivity and enhanced television, which will distinguish our channel from its competitors."
BSkyB's Sky News launched in 1989. News 24 is two and a half years old.
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