ITV has confirmed details of an alliance with kids' broadcaster Nickelodeon.

The pair are planning to launch a joint venture channel, INK (ITV Nickelodeon Kids), as part of the deal.

"The long delay in starting it up has been created by detailed legal negotiations," said Steven Andrew, ITV's controller of children's programming. "The attraction to us of Nickelodeon is that they do all areas and ages, pre-school, animation and so on. It's a good fit."

It is unknown whether - as previously reported - the afternoon CITV block will also adopt the INK branding.