[Spencer]

They never referred to a Carlton 'network'. The name was Central/Westcountry, and it changed to Carlton, occasionally Carlton Central/Westcountry, but never 'Central part of Carlton' or similar. This wasn't like 'Channel 3 North East/Yorkshire'; the network was always ITV[1].

The regional news name didn't match but then that wasn't an unusual situation on ITV.

With the benefit of hindsight it's easy to write it off as pointless but it was clearly a maneuver to something, we'll never know truly what or how successful it was but it's a reasonable guess that it was about lining themselves up to be the senior partner in any merger.

I suspect the change was primarily to do with streamlining and simplifying their advertising pitch to agencies, particularly as most of them are based in London and would be familiar with the Carlton brand. It's easier to sell one brand than three different ones.