[nwtv2003]

What's the deal with STV and ITV2 these days? Isn't ITV2 occupying capacity that is officially STV's (and originally used for S2)? Presumably there is some financial arrangement between ITV and STV for ITV2 to be carried in Scotland?

I believe what is essentially STV’s share of the second ITV channel space (or the D3&4 multiplex) was sold to Carlton and Granada when S2 closed down in 2001. Which by that time was a full time simulcast of ITV2. Likewise the same applied when UTV2 closed a year later.

Although it’s difficult to locate any online source, apparently part of the negotiation in response for S2’s closure was also to allow the ill fated ITV Sport Channel to launch in the Scottish and Grampian regions.