ITV takes full ownership of GMTV

ITV today announced that it has secured full ownership of GMTV, having acquired the remaining 25% stake in the business from The Walt Disney Company.

The acquisition forms part of ITV?s strategy to focus on its core activities and will allow closer integration between ITV and the breakfast service.

ITV made a one-off cash payment of ?18m for Disney?s 25% stake in GMTV, together with a further one-off payment of ?4.25m in respect of Disney?s share of the forecast cash balance in the business as at the year end.

John Cresswell, Chief Operating Officer at ITV, said: ?GMTV is the gateway to the ITV day and a perfect fit with ITV?s existing daytime programming. It represents an exciting opportunity to create a highly complementary daytime schedule offering great programming from 6am to 6pm.?