ITN launches mobile news, weather channels

ITN is launching a new 24-hour news channel just four months after the ITV News Channel was axed.

The new station will have an even smaller potential audience than its predecessor, however, with only Vodafone's mobile TV customers in its sights.

The channel has been designed for people "tuning in with no time to spare" and will feature rolling UK and international news updates alongside news from the worlds of showbiz, sport and business.

ITN is also launching a 24-hour weather channel in conjunction with the Met Office. The station, also available via Vodafone only, will provide weather information from nine regions round the UK, 5-day forecasts and holiday weather.

"We are convinced moving images on the move are going to be increasingly popular and we have a great range of content to offer," said Nicholas Wheeler, MD at ITN Multimedia. "It is good that Vodafone can see the benefits of serious information content as well as the more traditional light entertainment areas and understand the medium enough to see the value of the made-formobile propositions."