A NEW affiliate agreement between Belfast-based UTV Media and ITV, one of the UK’s biggest commercial television networks, has been described as a “major milestone”.

UTV’s television division, which holds the licence for ITV in the North, has signed new network arrangements which will enable it to continue to broadcast Channel 3 programmes and provide ITV with sales services subject to regulatory approval.

The proposed Network Affiliate Agreement will also allow the Belfast broadcaster to provide its own UTV programmes in the North.

John McCann, UTV’s chief executive, said the agreement, which if approved could potentially run until 2024, was important for the Belfast company’s future

“The proposed new agreements retain the strength offered by the original Channel 3 regional partnerships in the ITV network but provide the flexibility required for public service broadcasters to operate more effectively in today’s market on all platforms,” Mr McCann said.