The brand began as a children's programming strand called 'Watch It!' in 1980.
Children's ITV
1983–1989
Watch It! was highly regionalised and in an effort to create a coherent structure for the strand, a new look and format were introduced in January 1983, the new name being Children's ITV. Interstitial programming was pre-recorded (before it went live) years later and played out to the network by Central with the main programming being supplied and played out by all regional companies. Children's ITV went live in 1987 following the launch of its rival Children's BBC in 1985.
ITV launched new corporate branding in September 1989. Although many regional companies chose not to adopt the look, Children's ITV did implement it alongside the previous logo.
1989–1990 (secondary), 1990–1991 (primary)
This logo was introduced in April 1989 when Stonewall Productions (a company set up by a former Central employee) won the contract to provide interstitial programming for Children's ITV.
1991–1996
SVG NEEDED
In April 1991, Central regained the contract and introduced a new CITV logo. This was also used alongside the corporate logo until 1993.
CITV
1996–1998
SVG NEEDED
In 1996, the strand was renamed CITV with idents amended as appropriate.
1998–2003
SVG NEEDED
Designer:
unknown
Typography:
Amorpheus (modified)
Launched:
26 May 1998
CITV was re-launched on 26 May 1998 following a change of studio. The strand adopted the largely different name of CiTV and re-introduced live in-vision continuity.
2003–2006
On 8 September 2003, the logo was changed from 3D to 2D.
On 11 March 2006, CITV launched its own channel. At the same time, it got a new logo and a new look. It was created by Red Bee Media.
“The idents feature everyday scenes from a child's world that are then transformed by CITV to something far more fun and extraordinary; sausage and mash come to life as a Mexican mariachi band, and a tea set becomes a steam train chugging around a tray.”
As part of ITV plc rebranding on 14 January 2013, CITV received a new logo, with idents that children themselves have the chance to draw their own ideas for the logo and idents, which the in-house creative team at CITV animate into 'C-Creatures'.
The CITV block on ITV1 ended on 27 August 2023, with the channel following four days later. Another branded block, was launched on ITV2 on 2 September.[1] This block lasted until 10 April 2026, with the brand being officially discontinued on that day and its programming being moved to ITVX and competitor CBBC.
ITV Kids
2022 (unused)
Logo with background
This logo was a prototype for CITV during the 2022 rebrand. The logo ended up unused and the channel remained as CITV.[2]
