ITV is to close its broadband delivered news and information service ITV Local. Instead the network will concentrate on its video on demand content including ITV.com.
ITV Local was launched in early 2007 after a year-long trial in the South East region. Its closure comes after the BBC Trust rejected separate plans for a local online video service that keeps the market in the hands of the increasing number of local newspapers building online video content.
Earlier this month ITV reduced its local output to nine regions following permission from the regulator Ofcom, saving the broadcaster £40 million in 2009. ITV is planning total cost savings of £155m in 2009, rising to £175m in 2010 and £245m in 2011. Drama production is being scaled back and the Leeds studios, responsible for the production of Heartbeat and The Royal are to close.
The broadcaster confirmed it would sell the online school reunion site Friends Reunited and that it was considering the options for the SDN terrestrial multiplex operator.