ITV PLC (ITV.LN), a free-to-air broadcaster, said Monday that BlackRock Inc.(BLK), is now interested in 193.36 million shares in the company, representing 4.97% voting rights

MAIN FACTS:

-BlackRock Inc previously held 356.27 million shares in ITV

-ITV shares at 1125 GMT down 1 pence, or 1.6%, at 58 pence, valuing the company at GBP2.31 billion.

-By Razak Musah Baba, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9275; razak.baba@dowjones.com