Short answers, pulled from the story.
ITV launched on the 22nd of September 1955, beginning with Associated-Rediffusion's London service. It was created by the Television Act 1954 to provide competition to the BBC Television Service, which had held a monopoly on British television since 1936.
ITV operates through fifteen regional licences held by two companies: ITV plc, which holds thirteen licences covering England, Wales, southern Scotland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, and STV Group, which holds two licences covering central and northern Scotland. ITV plc was formed in 2004 from the merger of Carlton Communications and Granada plc.
In July 2009, STV removed programmes including The Bill, Midsomer Murders and Lewis from its schedule. ITV plc sued STV for £20 million, claiming the move breached network agreements; STV counter-sued for £35 million. The dispute was settled in 2011 with STV agreeing to pay ITV plc £18 million.
ITV has broadcast every FIFA World Cup live since 1966, sharing rights with the BBC under an arrangement in place since the 1960s. The same joint deal covers the UEFA European Championship and the FA Cup. Since the 1st of January 2017, ITV has been the exclusive free-to-air home of British horse racing. ITV has also broadcast every Rugby World Cup live since 1991.
The Broadcasting Act 1990 replaced the IBA regulator with the lighter-touch ITC, allowed companies to purchase other ITV regional franchises, and switched franchise awards to a highest-bidder auction. The auction produced stark disparities: Central Independent Television paid only £2,000 for its large Midlands region because it was unopposed, while Yorkshire Television paid £37.7 million for a region of comparable size.
ITV is widely available in Ireland, received directly in areas bordering Northern Ireland or in coastal areas from Wales. ITV programming is also available to Irish viewers on Virgin Media One. Since the 27th of March 2013, ITV has been offered by the British Forces Broadcasting Service to members of HM Forces and their families around the world.