ITV has delayed the launch of its joint-venture 'Freesat' service with the BBC, according to a report in the Independent On Sunday.

The new service - the equivalent of Freeview for satellite - was announced last year and had been expected to be up and running by this June.

Now ITV is said to have forced a "rethink" of the plans in order to concentrate on marketing Freeview, which is now in an estimated 7 million homes.

Confirming the delay, a BBC spokeswoman said that the service "might be available at the end of the year".