ITV (Independent Television) and BBC2 are two of the major television channels in England, with ITV being the first commercial TV channel in the UK and BBC2 being the third national channel. Here's a brief overview of their formation and launch:

ITV: In the early 1950s, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had a monopoly on television broadcasting in the UK. However, in 1954, the Television Act was passed, which allowed for the creation of commercial TV channels. This led to the formation of Independent Television (ITV), which was launched in 1955.

ITV was created through a network of regional franchises, with each franchisee responsible for producing programming for their specific region. The first region to launch was London on September 22, 1955, followed by the Midlands and the North of England in 1956, and the rest of the country in the years that followed.

The launch of ITV was met with both excitement and criticism. Some people were happy to have an alternative to the BBC, while others were concerned about the potential impact of commercial interests on television programming.

BBC2: BBC2 was launched in 1964 as the third national TV channel in the UK, following the success of ITV. Its launch was part of a wider effort by the BBC to expand its television offering and compete with the commercial channels.

One of the unique features of BBC2 was its focus on more highbrow and educational programming, as opposed to the entertainment and variety shows that were popular on BBC1 and ITV. BBC2 also pioneered the use of color television in the UK, with its first color broadcast taking place in 1967.

The launch of BBC2 was not without its challenges. There were technical difficulties with the color broadcasts, and the channel struggled to find an audience in its early years. However, it eventually found its footing and became an important part of the UK's television landscape.

Today, both ITV and BBC2 continue to be major players in the UK's television industry, offering a range of programming to audiences across the country.

The main difference between ITV, BBC2, and the BBC is their ownership, funding, and programming focus.

The BBC is a publicly-funded broadcaster that operates as a non-profit organization. It is funded by a license fee paid by all UK households that own a television, and its programming is not interrupted by commercial advertising. The BBC operates several television channels and radio stations, offering a wide range of programming, including news, current affairs, drama, comedy, documentaries, and entertainment.

ITV, on the other hand, is a commercial broadcaster that generates revenue primarily through advertising. Its programming is interrupted by commercial breaks, and its focus is on popular entertainment and drama, although it also includes news and current affairs programming. ITV originally operated as a network of regional franchises, but these have since been consolidated into a single entity.

BBC2, which launched in 1964, was created as a more intellectual and highbrow channel than the BBC's flagship channel, BBC One. It has a focus on arts, culture, and educational programming, and is funded by the same license fee as the BBC's other channels. Unlike ITV, it does not carry commercial advertising.

Overall, the key differences between the BBC, ITV, and BBC2 are their ownership and funding models, and the programming focus of each channel. While the BBC is a public service broadcaster funded by the license fee, ITV is a commercial broadcaster funded by advertising, and BBC2 is a more niche channel with a focus on arts, culture, and education.