ITV will continue to broadcast their six channels "whatever happens", amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Several of the broadcaster’s shows have been affected by the pandemic – which has resulted in more than 8,000 deaths worldwide – but they have vowed to "remain committed to doing everything we can to continue to provide news, drama, entertainment and factual programmes to our viewers".
Carolyn McCall, ITV’s CEO, said: "This week has seen an escalation in the impact of the coronavirus with the Government ramping up measures and recommendations that are having profound implications for people and organisations across the UK.
"All businesses are being deeply affected and ITV is no exception, but as a Public Service Broadcaster we remain committed to doing everything we can to continue to provide news, drama, entertainment and factual programmes to our viewers to keep them informed about this crisis and to offer them an escape from it.
"The health of our own people and those who work with us remains our priority and we will implement the latest official guidance. I would like to thank everybody for the extra efforts being made in every team across ITV. We are also working closely with our partners in the industry to keep our shows on air.
"Whatever happens, we will continue to broadcast our six channels, which, between them, offer hundreds of hours of content every week for free and accessible to everyone in the UK.
"Whatever happens with the amazing support of our people and our partners in the industry we will do everything we can to continue to inform, connect with and entertain millions of viewers."
Kevin Lygo, ITV Director of Television, announced the channel will air a new weekly Monday night show, ‘Coronavirus Report’, which will "give viewers an in-depth insight into issues affecting them during the current crisis".
He said: "Today we are announcing a new, weekly Monday night show Coronavirus Report, produced by ITV News, that has been newly commissioned to give viewers an in-depth insight into issues affecting them during the current crisis.
"We will continue to explore new ideas that will allow us to react to the world around and reflect that in our schedule in the weeks ahead."
And there are "contingency plans" in place for the show’s Daytime programmes – which include the likes of ‘This Morning’, co-hosted by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby – if the crisis worsens.
He said: "Our live Daytime output continues to evolve and contingency plans in place would allow us to air from alternative locations and in more nimble ways – such as guests appearing remotely via other studios or Skype and FaceTime.
"Across our family of channels, our schedule remains robust, relying as it does on largely pre-recorded programmes – from our afternoon quiz shows like The Chase and Tenable to our evening dramas like Belgravia and Liar – and we are in a position to offer viewers a great deal of new shows in the coming weeks, particularly in peak time.
"Across Drama, Entertainment and Factual Entertainment we have a fantastic mix of new and returning highlights set to air, such as Quiz, Honour, Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow, Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip, Harry’s Heroes: Euro having a laugh, Our Queen At War, Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai and The Sister.
"However, with the spread of COVID-19 increasing, inevitably our ability to produce shows is being affected and shows will no longer be recorded with studio audiences.
"There will be further developments and challenges ahead – such as filling the gaps left by the suspension of sporting events – so we will continue to keep viewers fully informed as we progress.
"We are already seeing new ideas coming through which might provide innovative new ways of producing TV in these uniquely challenging times."
ITV will continue to broadcast 6 channels ‘whatever happens’
