Streaming and football to boost ITV profits | Business

The impending launch of a revamped ITV streaming service, and an expected rise in advertising during the winter World Cup are set to boost Britain’s biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster.

The FTSE 100 media group said ITVX, its new free ad-funded platform, remained on track to launch in the fourth quarter of this year and is targeting at least £750 million of digital revenues by 2026.

The update on ITVX, which will replace ITV Hub and ITV Hub+, its existing domestic online services — and the cost of which unsettled investors when the media group revealed the plans in March — was made alongside half-year results yesterday.

Group revenue rose 9 per cent to almost £2 billion, with revenue in its studios production business up 16