The
Independent Television Authority (
ITA) is a defunct agency created by the
Television Act 1954 to supervise the creation of "Independent Television" (
ITV), the first commercial
television network in the
United Kingdom. The ITA was responsible for determining the location, constructing, building, and operating the transmission stations used by the ITV network, as well as determining the
franchise areas and awarding the franchises for each regional commercial
broadcaster. The Authority began its operations on 4 August 1954, a mere four days after the Television Act received
Royal Assent, under the Chairmanship of Sir
Kenneth Clark. The Authority's first Director General,
Sir Robert Fraser was appointed by Clark a month later on 14 September.