ITV News Channel Gloom

Just under three weeks ago, the ITV News Channel saw its hours on Freeview - the platform where it gets most of its viewers - cut in half to make way for ITV4 (not Men and Motors as the Guardian seems to believe...)

Even then, the fate of the ITV News Channel looked pretty bleak. Now senior members of staff are leaving documents outlining a contingency plan for the 'imminent closure' of the service, on printers in the office.

With the launch of the new ITV Kids channel in February, ITV News Channel will have no home on Freeview. And with its largest audience coming from Freeview homes, it would be the kiss of death for the channel.

Whilst the management may be claiming that nothing has been set in stone, the future isn't exactly bright. ITV is rumoured to have dropped out of the running for a new Freeview slot. Not surprising really given the reported price tag of £10m. It's a lot of money to pay every year just to allow the broadcast of a channel that's losing around £3m a year anyway.

Short of a miracle happening, it's hard to believe that we'll have the ITV News Channel this time next year.