ITV4 will launch this autumn backed by a minimum budget of £15 million, network CEO Mick Desmond has revealed.

The male-oriented channel will build on ITV2's strategy of featuring US imports such as Sylvester Stallone's boxing reality show The Contender.

"This is a really important point for us," Broadcast quote Desmond as saying. "It's the first time we can compete head to head with channels using a high proportion of US acquisitions like Sky One, Channel 4 and Five."

He added that ITV4 would share coverage of sports tournaments with ITV1, including spinoff shows akin to ITV2's popular Celebrity Love Island: Aftersun and Hell's Kitchen: Extra Portions.

Additionally, Brand Republic claims that adult programming may feature as part of the channel's late night schedule.