When digital terrestrial television was first launched in the UK, it was decided that Multiplex A must carry Channel 5 nationally, S4C in Wales and TeleG in Scotland.
In the event, they were the only bidder and, after having their business plan approved, were awarded the licence to operate Multiplex A by the Independent Television Commission in 1997.
They rented out their capacity to various free and subscription channels (though S4C did keep their gifted space in Wales to launch S4C2).
The ITV Select package consisted of five of SDN's streams, plus a sixth as a free "taster" channel.
The ITN News Channel, TV Travel Shop and Simply Money time-shared with the ITV Select streams.