ITV, the UK television company, stormed into the bond markets today for the first time, issuing the third-largest sterling-denominated corporate bond since the summer. The £325m (€479m) deal attracted over £1bn of orders and catapulted ITV into the top 10 sterling borrowers this year.

It was ITV's first deal since the company was created through last year's merger between rival UK media groups Carlton and Granada.